Martin Odegaard will hopefully change the fortunes at Arsenal – and he hash had to show some leadership with the Norwegian national team.
The playmaker is back at Arsenal permanently having joined the Gunners on loan during the January transfer window before heading back to Real Madrid.
With no key role under Carlo Ancelotti, Odegaard is back at Arsenal for good now – and his first game back wasn’t ideal, a 5-0 hammering at Manchester City.
Odegaard should provide creativity and quality on the ball though, offering a major boost to Mikel Arteta and co.
The 22-year-old has been away with Norway during the international break, and has enjoyed some decent results.
After a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands last week, Norway have secured comfortable wins over Latvia and Gibraltar in World Cup qualifiers.
What’s interesting though is that Odegaard has told TV2 that he held a meeting with his Norway teammates to try and change the culture of the side.
Before this international break, form had been patchy; a defeat to Greece, narrow wins over Luxembourg and Montenegro, a win over Gibraltar, a draw in Austria and convincing defeats in Romania and Turkey.
For a squad featuring Odegaard, Erling Haaland, Kristoffer Ajer Jens Petter Hauge and Sander Berge, that just isn’t quite good enough.
Odegaard is only young, but he already captains Norway and showed his leadership skills by calling that meeting.
That’s the kind of influence Arsenal really need if they’re to not only get out of this situation but also move forward under Arteta.
Arsenal fans have been reacting to the news, suggesting that they love to see this kind of leadership from the playmaker.
Others believe Odegaard is a future Arsenal captain, praising him for leading by example whilst even feeling that PIerre-Emerick Aubameyang could learn a thing or two from him.
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