Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard believes he’s now back to 100% after his injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign.
Martin Odegaard has made a strong start to 2026/27, scoring in the Community Shield against Manchester City before adding another goal in Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City.
More than the goals, the midfielder’s individual displays have helped Arsenal to put in a couple of flowing team performances.
The combinations between Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Ben White on the right-hand-side against Coventry were a reminder of the kind of football the trio can produce at their best.
This early-season form is a continuation of Odegaard’s strong displays for Norway at the summer World Cup, and he’s starting to show the consistency he never managed to achieve last season – thanks to injuries.
“I think last season was a big struggle for me,” Odegaard admitted to Sky Sports. “I had too many injuries and a lot of weird situations, a lot of bad luck, could really never find the rhythm.
“It’s hard when you always go in and out, and sometimes you play maybe not 100% fit. It was hard.
“I feel good now, my body’s good. I’ve had a good summer, good World Cup, good pre-season. Now I’m feeling 100%, so that always helps. So I feel great.”
Whilst the addition of Bruno Guimaraes and the growing influence of Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield will help Arsenal in the middle, there’s no doubt Odegaard offers something different to any of the alternatives in his role.
Eberechi Eze is the only player who comes close in an attack-minded sense, but as a right-footed player, Eze is really more of an option for the other side.
Odegaard being fit and ‘100%’ for the majority of this season would be huge for the Gunners, and would surely result in the team captain lifting further trophies in 2027.
- Kvaratskhelia suffers ACL injury as PSG lose 3 to injury v BarcelonaPSG’s 4-2 win over Barcelona came at a heavy cost, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia facing surgery after suffering a serious knee injury.
- Chelsea failed in Arsenal transfer hijackChelsea tried to hijack Arsenal’s move for Riccardo Calafiori at the exact moment the Gunners were holding transfer talks with Bologna, according to a report.
- Nwaneri plays in goal after 2 keeper injuriesTwo late injuries left Arsenal facing an extraordinary problem against Tottenham, before Emerson Nwaneri helped turn a chaotic derby into victory.
- Bayern star to miss Arsenal game after sudden death of fatherOne of Bayern’s most important players will now miss the Allianz Arena meeting on compassionate leave, while several other key figures are also unavailable or doubtful.
- Arsenal manager makes striking confession ahead of Munich matchMikel Arteta has revealed how last season’s Champions League final still affects him as Arsenal prepare for another major European test in Munich.