“There are no limits to Arsenal”

Martin Odegaard confidently declares Arsenal are ready to win their first Premier League title in 19 years.

Arsenal is 5 points ahead of the defending champion Man.City at the top, although there is still a match in hand (20 compared to 21 matches of Man.City). Odegaard recently emphasized on the Players’ Tribune: “We are now in the race for the title. If there is anyone else who still doesn’t fully believe in this team, take it from me – there are no limits. But there’s still a long way to go and believe me, no one thinks about May. It seems like a cliché but the truth is we are. I’m focusing on each training session, working hard for each match…”.

The 24-year-old Norwegian midfielder also had warm words for coach Mike Arteta, who he described as “passionate, intense and a bit crazy”. Arteta was the one who convinced Odegaard to come to Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid, before signing an official contract worth £ 30 million in the summer of 2021. The Spaniard also unexpectedly handed over the captain’s armband. for Odegaard at the start of the 2022-2023 season.

Absolutely believe that the ambitious plan outlined by coach Mikel Arteta is on the right track.

“I challenge anyone to walk away from a meeting with Mikel Arteta and not believe everything he tells you,” Odegaard said. “When he talks to you, you believe whatever he says is going to happen, it’s bound to happen.

He’s passionate, intense, and sometimes, yes, he’s a little crazy. I initially spoke with Mikel on a Zoom call and he told me all about the project at Arsenal. At that time, Arsenal did not perform well, falling to 15th place in the table. But when I heard him talk about the plans, everything going forward, about all the great young players on the team – Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe – and how he explained how I got there. able to integrate and progress, I had a strong feeling that he was doing something really special. And even as we finished eighth in my first season here, no one at the club lost faith in what we were doing. It’s all part of this plan.”

The biggest match of the season will take place next week when Arsenal welcome Man.City to the Emirates. However, the Gunners need to beat the visitors to Brentford on Saturday, the same way they pressurized when Man.Ciry welcome Aston Villa at the Etihad a day later.