Martin Odegaard's work with Arsenal is done until next season but the midfielder has a major responsibility with Norway, captaining them during their World Cup qualifiers
DEBRECEN, HUNGARY - MARCH 25: Martin Odegaard (R) and Orjan Nyland of Norway walk during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between Israel and Norway at Nagyerdei Stadion on March 25, 2025 in Debrecen, Hungary. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard also captains Norway(Image: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been hailed for setting the perfect example on and off the pitch within the Norwegian national team. Odegaard, 26, captains his country just like the Gunners and is charged with leading his nation to their first World Cup since 1998.
The midfielder has provided four assists in two games as Norway bid to qualify for the 2026 edition, helping them take maximum points. Odegaard, who also scored and assisted in Arsenal's final two games of the Premier League season, will lead his team-mates out against Italy on Friday in a match which could define their qualifying campaign.
Another star performance would go a long way towards Norway taking command of Group I on the road to the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the reverse fixture in Italy to be played on the final matchday. But it's not just on the pitch where the 26-year-old is admired.
Having been appointed Norway's captain at the age of 22, just months before he was given the armband by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, Odegaard has grown 'enormously' into a leader. International team-mate Kristian Thorstvedt has revealed an unseen gesture which shows the Odegaard's true colours.
Thorstvedt told Norwegian outlet NRK about how the former Real Madrid star picked up everyone's litter after a game of cards at the team hotel. "When we were finished, everyone left their trash," Thorstvedt explained. "Then Martin was left there cleaning up after the whole group.
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"When I see that, I'm impressed. Well, it should go without saying, but it's just little things like that that make Martin a leader."
Odegaard was asked about the incident and, looking slightly embedded, said: "We were playing cards, and it didn't look so good afterwards, so we went to the trash can. I don't know if it's that extremely impressive, but it happened."
It wasn't the first time Odegaard has taken it upon himself to tidy up on behalf of others. After Norway thrashed Irsael 4-2 in March, a game in which he provided a hat-trick of assists, the Norwegian FA released footage of Odegaard going around the locker room and cleaning up after his team-mates.
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National manager Stale Solbakken reacted by saying: "That's how you can sum him up. If you look at how he praised Torbjorn Heggem along the way, a player who played a big international match for the first time as a centre-back.
"That he got a pat on the back just for taking out an Israel player in the box... That's kind of how Martin is. That's why he's captain. He has grown enormously in that role now. The man we see today is not the man who was given the captain's armband three or four years ago."
Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb also praised Odegaard's people skills, saying: "He is incredibly good. And the way he brings people into the group, even though he plays for Arsenal, is captain there and such a big star.
"He is so good with people and really takes the young and new ones in in a good way. And it is a pleasure to play with him."
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