Arteta's "brutal" Martin Odegaard claim explains Arsenal contract decision

22 September 2023 , 08:05

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Martin Odegaard has signed a new Arsenal contract (Image: Getty Images)

Martin Odegaard has put pen to paper on a new Arsenal contract and past quotes from manager Mikel Arteta explain why the Gunners were so keen to extend his stay.

Odegaard initially arrived at the Emirates on a six-month loan deal from Spanish giants Real Madrid in January 2021 and hardly set the world alight during that period. However, the midfielder clearly showed just enough for Arteta to push for the loan to be turned into a permanent contract and since then, the Norway international has barely looked back.

Few could have predicted when he first touched down in north London that Odegaard would become captain of the club 18 months later, but the start of last season saw him handed the armband and all the responsibilities that go with it. By now, it is well documented that the 24-year-old enjoys a fantastic relationship with his manager, who has often waxed lyrical about Odegaard's influence.

At the start of the summer earlier this year, Arteta talked up the mentality of his midfielder while speaking to Spanish outlet Marca, claiming: "His self-demand is brutal, he understands everything very well and learns quickly. We help him by giving him responsibility and confidence by making him a captain. I told him: ‘with this [role] will come more demands and your ability to transmit will be the key. Be you.’

"Martin is very reserved, but when he speaks, he is heard. He does everything required: he takes care of himself; he cares and improves others; he has education, love for the game, commitment.

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"His numbers are very good: the midfielder with the most goals in the history of the Premier League along with [Frank] Lampard. And he can still improve at 24 years old."

If ever any pundit or fan began to question why Odegaard was entrusted with the Arsenal captaincy, those comments from Arteta go a long way as to explaining why. They also shed light on why the Gunners have handed their skipper a new long-term deal.

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One of Martin Odegaard's biggest admirers is Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

The fresh, bumper contract extension keeps Odegaard tied to the Emirates until the summer of 2028. He'll almost certainly remain an integral part of Arteta's project for the entirety of that period, especially given Odegaard will only be 29 by the time this deal expires.

The former Los Blancos wonderkid actually still had two years left to run on his previous Arsenal contract, but such is the desperation to keep him at the club, Arteta felt the Gunners simply had to push for an extension as soon as possible.

Odegaard becomes just the latest Arsenal ace to commit his long-term future to the Gunners in recent times. Within the last 12 months, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka have all penned new deals.

The Norwegian's first outing since signing the contract will come against fierce local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. With both sides boasting equal records so far this season, there are more than just bragging rights at stake.

Odegaard has made clear he is well aware of the game's importance, with the Arsenal captain claiming: "That’s a big one, when I first came here I knew straight away going into that game that this was something special. You can just feel it at the training ground, on social media.

"Even though I try not to focus too much on social media, you still see it and feel it from the fans. It’s a special one and it’s a game we look forward to. It’s one of those games you really enjoy playing and it will be a nice one. To play here at home with the fans."

Josh O'Brien