LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal reacts during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 07, 2024 in London, England. Arsenal wear an all-white kit at home, for the first time in the club's history, in support of the 'No More Red' campaign against knife crime and youth violence. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arteta’s challenge that ignited Martin Odegaard’s Arsenal form

Feb 21, 2024

Martin Odegaard’s impressive goal contributions this season have been crucial to Arsenal’s title challenge. While always a vital playmaker, the captain has added another dimension to his game.

Journalist Adrià Jiménez reveals that a direct challenge from Mikel Arteta sparked this evolution.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, gives instructions to Martin Odegaard during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Arsenal FC at Turf Moor on February 17, 2024 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images) — BURNLEY, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 17: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, gives instructions to Martin Odegaard during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Arsenal FC at Turf Moor on February 17, 2024 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Despite solid statistics, Mikel Arteta reportedly wasn’t satisfied with Martin Odegaard’s previous output. “Last year he scored about 15 goals and distributed quite a few assists, but Arteta made Odegaard understand that he had to be a more finishing player,” said Jiménez. The manager envisioned Odegaard becoming an even greater threat in the final third.

Odegaard rises to the challenge

Odegaard has clearly taken this message to heart. With eight goals and seven assists in 31 games across all competitions this season, he’s closing in on last season’s totals.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal runs with the ball from Kalvin Phillips of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on February 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) — LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal runs with the ball from Kalvin Phillips of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on February 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

But Arteta’s challenge wasn’t just about goals but about positioning. “Arsenal needs the Norwegian with the ability to move quickly from the base to finishing areas,” Jiménez explained. Odegaard is now delivering more decisive runs into the box, positioning himself for goalscoring opportunities he might have shied away from previously.

Interestingly, Declan Rice’s summer arrival has also fuelled Odegaard’s transformation as Rice’s defensive solidity provides Odegaard the license to roam forward with more confidence. Jiménez adds, “Thanks to the figure of Declan Rice, who covers all the ground he has to cover, [Odegaard] is a player who now has that freedom to clean up the play from the beginning and reach areas where he can do damage through a goal or an assist.”

Asked about the ‘ceiling’ of Arsenal with Martin Odegaard as captain and Mikel Arteta as manager, Jiménez said “At the football level, it is a made team. It can make you semi-finals. But the Champions League puts you in front of the mirror. It tells you what situation you are in and you have to see what Arsenal players are made of.

“There are many young people. As a team they are a very tough opponent, it is very difficult to score a goal [against them], but I think that on a mental level… What happened to them last year in the Premier League will be good for them, but we will have to see in those moments in which the playoffs are decided by ‘Where does the team come from?’