In recent months, Martin Ødegaard has been linked with exit Arsenal. It is the English media seeing recurring injuries, Arsenal’s ability to perform without their captain on the pitch and the club’s need for major sales to fund further reinforcements, that have created the rumours on the ball island. However, there is no doubt that Ødegaard still has full confidence in Arteta. The two have been through a real climb together towards the biggest titles, now negotiations are starting that will give Ødegaard continued excellent working conditions at the Gunners.
Since Guardiola assistant Mikel Arteta took over the reins at Arsenal in 2019, a recurring question after the end of the season has always been: Does Arteta have the biggest titles “in him”? With three runners-up in the Premier League, this question has been reinforced. This season, Arsenal have been candidates for the quadruple, but lost the League Cup final to City and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton in the quarter-finals. The sofa experts have thus once again brought up “what did we say”. The Arsenal management ignores this, they have found “their man”.
Because who cares about the cups, when Arteta leads Arsenal on course for the Premier League title and has one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after a 0-1 win against Sporting in the first quarter-final.
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Arteta’s contract expires next summer, but it doesn’t stand or fall on whether the season ends with one, or both, major titles.
Because according to the BBC, negotiations are underway between the Arsenal management and Arteta about an extension. Still in an initial phase, but they are described as positive. Towards the end of the season, negotiations intensify, where both parties are said to be interested in continuing the working relationship.
Martin Ødegaard was brought in on Arteta’s watch, first on loan from Real Madrid, then a permanent transfer in 2021. Already for the 2022/23 season, Arteta appointed the Norwegian player captain. The two have had a very close collaboration. With Arteta’s extension in place, Arsenal will still provide the best working conditions and title opportunities for Ødegaard.
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