Arteta told Odegaard the Arsenal trio he would build around in opening chat

09 February 2023 , 20:47

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Mikel Arteta won over Martin Odegaard two years ago (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Martin Odegaard was convinced to join Arsenal after Mikel Arteta explained that his plan for the club was centred around Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe.

Odegaard joined Arsenal on loan in January 2021 after only making nine appearances in the first half of the season for Real Madrid. Still only 22 years old at the time, it was a big decision for Odegaard, who appeared to be stagnating at Real after gaining huge hype as a wonderkid in Norway.

Arsenal were struggling in the Premier League at the time and Odegaard could have returned on loan to Real Sociedad, where he had contributed seven goals and nine assists across 36 appearances the previous campaign. But he says that Arteta sold the project in north London very well to him to seal the deal.

“I spoke to Mikel Arteta on a Zoom call and he told me all about the project. At the time, Arsenal were not doing well,” Odegaard wrote for the Players Tribune. “They were way down like 15th in the table, but that meeting … Honestly, I challenge anyone to come away from a meeting with Arteta and not believe everything he tells you.

“He is next level. It's hard to explain. He’s passionate, he’s intense and sometimes, yeah, he’s a bit crazy … but when he speaks, you understand that whatever he says will happen, will happen.

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“He told me his plan, everything he was building towards. He knew exactly what needed to change at the club. He told me all about these amazing young players in the squad — Saka, Martinelli, Smith Rowe, etc., etc. He told me how he wanted me to fit in and how I was going to improve.”

Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka were identified as the future of the club (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

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Odegaard made an impact at Arsenal in the second half of the 2020/21 season and was signed on a permanent deal from Real in the summer. The Gunners paid £30million plus £4m in add-ons for the attacking midfielder and the investment has worked out nicely.

The 24-year-old has developed into a key cog in the Arsenal midfield and has taken the captain’s armband. He has 17 goals and 13 assists in 86 games altogether – and the club have Arteta to thank for that.

Back in January 2021, Odegaard was open about how impressed he was by the Gunners boss. "I spoke to him (Arteta) before coming here, of course," Odegaard told the club website.

"That was very important for me and he seems like a top manager and I liked his ideas, the way he sees football and also the way he is. He gave me a great feeling and that was important for me to come here. He was crucial.”

Saka, Martinelli and Smith Rowe have all kicked on under Arteta’s management, showing that the Spaniard has delivered on the promise he made to Odegaard two years ago.

Felix Keith