Martin Odegaard has told Viaplay it ‘feels good’ to be at Arsenal following his transfer from Real Madrid, and believes Mikel Arteta’s side are on course to regain a place with the elite.
The Gunners paid £34m to bring Odegaard back to the Emirates Stadium this summer after his loan spell last season. He instantly re-claimed a key role in Arteta’s plans, but a lack of form saw the 23-year-old fall to the bench through October in line with a move to a 4-4-2.
Arteta recalled Odegaard in late November and has not regretted the decision with the 37-cap Norwegian hitting his best form. The midfielder has offered three goals and one assist over his last six Premier League outings, since returning to the starting line-up last month.
Odegaard has looked at home as the number 10 in Arsenal’s midfield after Arteta returned to a 4-2-3-1. He has been pulling sides apart and has created numerous openings to break.
Odegaard hails Arsenal for his recent development
Arsenal will spend Christmas inside the Premier League top-four for the first time since 2016 thanks partly to Odegaard’s form. But the £85k-a-week maestro is also thankful for the Gunners helping to nurture his talent since returning to north London.
“We have a very exciting group of players here,” Odegaard said. “They do a fantastic job with young players, giving us match time and helping us all the way. They not only give us the chance, but help us grow every year.
“I feel that they have helped me a lot in the short period I’ve been here. I have been through a lot, despite my young age, and now I have joined a fantastic team, with young and promising players. We are a team that are rising in a big club that belongs in the top.
“I feel that we are on a good path to achieve that. What we have done lately is very promising. We are a hungry group of lads that want to establish the team in the top again. It feels good to be here, and I think what we are doing now is very good.”
Can Odegaard help Areta’s side return to Europe’s elite?
Odegaard and Arsenal will hope their form so far this season can continue to reclaim a spot in Europe. Last terms’ eight-place finish meant they failed to qualify for a UEFA tournament for the first time in 25-years.
The Gunners will also be desperate to use their year without European football to focus on the Premier League. They have not finished in the top-four and thus reach the Champions League since finishing as runners-up to Leicester during the Foxes’ miracle 2015/16 term.
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