Martin Odegaard’s performance was anything but outstanding in champions Arsenal’s title-winning campaign last season. The Norwegian midfielder had a goal and six assists in 24 appearances.
This year, under Odegaard’s astute leadership, Norway booked a World Cup quarter-final berth for the first time. Although he couldn’t find the target, Odegaard contributed with three assists to influence Norway’s most successful Cup campaign ever before exiting in the quarter-finals to England.
Odegaard and his teammates will kick off Arsenal’s Premier League defence when they host Coventry City on Friday (Saturday IST) in the tournament opener. The task will not be easy for Arsenal, as Odegaard will also have to plan how his team can keep at bay his Norway teammate Erling Haaland – who was in magnificent touch during the World Cup – when the Gunners face Manchester City at home on November 28.
For Odegaard, though, the need for an attacking mindset is the key to a successful defence of their crown. “I don’t think it’s about defending the title. It’s about being attacking and doing it all over again. That’s the mindset,” Odegaard told The Telegraph in an interaction facilitated by JioHotstar.
“There has been so much of talk that we won (last time). So, the mindset is to be
offensive and keep improving and getting better. That’s the challenge we are looking forward to.”
Arsenal’s first big test will be against Chelsea at home on September 6. Going into the London Derby, Odegaard expects fans in India to root for the Gunners and keep boosting the team morale.
Aware of Arsenal’s fanbase in India, the 27-year-old said: “Just support us. I think that’s the main thing, to keep supporting us and to cheer for us. And yeah, to watch the game and enjoy it, and hopefully, we can give them a good experience as well as a win. So that’s the aim.”
Such support from India and other places should buoy Arsenal further for another great season, Odegaard emphasised. “It’s a special thing to feel that support from so many countries and from a place like India, which is quite far away. Hopefully, we can live up to the expectations and have a great season.”