“It’s a complex question,” Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard told FourFourTwo in February, when asked what has changed at the Emirates this season. “First of all, we have experience. We have been through a lot together as a group. We’ve been very close for a few years now, and being in those positions – fighting for the biggest titles and the biggest trophies in the world – gives you something. You learn from it.” This was the start of the interview that ends with the captain’s: This is our season. On Tuesday, the confirmation came that “our man” was right, Arsenal are Premier League champions!.
We rewind to the interview in February: “We’ve all grown a little too, we’re a little older. And the club has done very well in bringing in some very good players. You can see it in the squad. You realize how important it is to have numbers, but also quality throughout the group, as the season is long and a lot is happening.”
READ: Guardiola reveals plan after City exit
Then there’s the daily grind, the part that rarely makes headlines. “It’s the work we do every day on the training ground,” he continues. “We work so hard to improve. We focus on small details, and every day it’s about getting better.”
“Over time, I really think that’s the right way to do it. That’s why I think this will be our year.”
A lot has changed as a player in the last five years.
“A lot of things,” Ødegaard continues. “As you get older, you learn and grow. That is the experience. I’m probably a little calmer now. I’ve been in this situation many times, so I know what it takes and what I have to give to the team.”
“It’s about doing those things every day, being in the moment. Don’t look too far ahead and don’t think about what might happen in a few weeks or months – just be present and do your best every single day.”
From a broader team perspective, the same principles apply. “You need a little bit of everything,” he adds. “When we had injuries, a lot of players stepped up and you could see the quality in the squad. How we work in training creates the foundation for what we want to do.”
“We’ve seen how tough this league is to win. I remember the season two years ago when we were almost perfect at the end – an almost unbeaten streak, so many points – and still didn’t win it. It shows how difficult it is. It takes the very best – that’s what we try to give every day.”
Read on F7: Manchester City prepare the place for world champion Enzo Maresca
Now Ødegaard will lift the Premier League trophy as Arsenal captain, the same Patrick Vieira did in 2004. This is no coincidence.
