Arsenal told ‘super footballer’ at the club is an ‘extension’ of Mikel Arteta on the pitch

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Owen Hargreaves has claimed that Martin Odegaard is a ‘super footballer’ and the Arsenal captain is an ‘extension’ of Mikel Arteta out on the pitch.

At 23, it’s not easy donning the armband of a club the size of Arsenal, but not only has Odegaard done that on the domestic stage, but also for Norway on the international scene.

Odegaard might not be a screamer or someone who gets in your face, but Hargreaves feels the playmaker is someone who ‘leads by example’ out on the pitch and more of a modern-day skipper.

There are very few Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira-like captains about these days, less vocal on the pitch and in the dressing room, but letting their football do the talking, instead.

Arsenal’s creator in the middle did just that over the weekend when he netted a brace during his side’s win over Wolves and Hargreaves was full of praise for the player, as he told Premier League Productions (12/11/22 at 9:55 pm).

“Odegaard is the club captain,” said Hargreaves. “When you watch him. You would say that he isn’t your traditional captain. Your Roy Keane or your Paul Ince. That generation.

“But the young captains now are different. They lead by example. I think he leads by his habits on the training pitch. He’s an extension of Mikel Arteta.

“Quiet, a super footballer and he’s reliable. I think he is a symbol of what they are producing at Arsenal. He’s really consistent.”

ODEGAARD RESTED AHEAD OF WC

For some, such as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, they are on the journey of a lifetime because they will be competing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It’s the first for the Arsenal attacking trio, who will be looking to elevate their already-progressing statuses even further.

But for Odegaard, with Norway failing to progress, he will be rested when Arsenal return to domestic action on Boxing Day, which should be seen as a positive given the huge mental challenge that awaits the north London club for the second half of the season.