Then it was done. Captain Patrick Vieira lifted the Premier League trophy for Arsenal in 2004. Captain Martin Ødegaard lifted the trophy on Sunday, half an eternity for the Arsenal supporters later. Ødegaard was brought in from Real Madrid in 2021 for just that, five years later the project has reached its main goal. This is arguably Mikel Arteta’s and Arsenal’s most important and biggest signing in decades.
This season, Martin Ødegaard has received his share of criticism. Injuries and occasional lack of flow in the game from the captain have led “experts” to report that Arsenal need a captain other than the Norwegian. Mikel Arteta has scoffed at the criticism and reiterated to the point of boredom how crucial captain Ødegaard is to have on the pitch, in the dressing room and on the training ground. On Sunday, Ødegaard picked up the Premier League trophy and lifted it up in front of players and supporters to wild cheers.
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Martin Ødegaard came to Arsenal during a period of crisis. He took responsibility and stepped in as captain when the team needed guidance the most. His leadership felt like a real reward for everything the Arsenal supporters had endured. – It has become a series with 2nd places in the Premier League.
Arsenal paid up to a total of €40 million for Ødegaard in a move from Real Madrid, but they got much more than just a talented footballer. They signed a mentally strong leader. He leads by example, supports his teammates, and handles situations with composure and intelligence. Everything that the bosses at the Santiago Bernabeu had missed.
It didn’t take long for Arsenal supporters to call the Ødegaard signing “the big steal”. With Arteta on the sidelines and captain Ødegaard out on the pitch, Arsenal have been laying stone upon stone since 2021 – to give supporters the euphoric joy of winning the Premier League title for the first time since 2003/04.
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Ødegaard grew with Arsenal and fully understands the club’s values. He has proven that he deserves the captain’s armband both at Arsenal and for Norway. Signing Martin Ødegaard remains Mikel Arteta’s most successful contract as Arsenal manager.
