Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard is savoring the "heat" of his team's fierce rivalry with Manchester City, as they prepare to clash this Sunday. The two teams have faced each other numerous times recently, with Arsenal determined to gain the upper hand this season.
The build-up to the match is charged with anticipation, particularly after their last encounter on September 30, 2024, which ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Ødegaard watched from the sidelines due to injury as his teammate, Erling Haaland, netted the first goal for City. Tensions boiled over at the final whistle when Haaland confronted Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, urging him to "stay humble". John Stones' late strike salvaged a point for City, keeping Arsenal's hopes alive against their rivals, who have struggled to triumph over them recently.
“It is normal when you play these big games, there is a big rivalry,” Ødegaard commented, highlighting the competitiveness inherent to high-stakes matches. He noted, “You are competing and you want to be the best. So that's how it should be, and there should be a little bit of heat sometimes.” This intensity is amplified by the players' friendships off the pitch; Ødegaard and Haaland, who are teammates for Norway, maintain communication outside football, but once the match begins, they set aside their camaraderie for the sake of competition.
Reflecting on Haaland's emotional outburst after the previous match, Ødegaard observed, “Emotions are so high and the adrenaline is there and everything. That’s something can happen on the pitch, and when you walk off the pitch, then you are done with it.” This encapsulates the essence of these fierce encounters, where friendships are challenged by professional rivalries, yet players often reconcile after the final whistle.
Looking forward, Arsenal faces challenges both on the pitch and off, particularly concerning player transfers. The club's hopes of signing Norway Under-21 midfielder Sverre Nypan seem to have stalled, as he has decided to remain at Rosenborg until summer. Having been compared to Ødegaard, Nypan held discussions with Manchester City’s sister club Girona and Aston Villa but opted to delay decisions about his future.
Ødegaard, who has been tasked with the creative responsibility for Arsenal, admitted, “My return of only one Premier League goal this season hasn’t been good enough.” The pressure mounts, with fans eager to see more from the captain as they pursue greater success in the league. Compounding the situation, goalkeeper David Raya is doubtful for the upcoming showdown due to a muscle injury suffered during the thrilling Champions League victory over Girona.
Despite these challenges, Ødegaard remains optimistic. After their previous success, the team plans to head for warm-weather training in Dubai after their second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle. “We’re in a good position and we have to keep remembering the good things,” Ødegaard stated, expressing confidence about the upcoming matches. Drawing inspiration from their remarkable performance during the latter half of last season—where they dropped only five points from the last 18 matches—he believes they can replicate this form again.
“When you’ve been so close, you get even more hungry, you get even more determination to do it,” Ødegaard reflected. The team’s narrowly missed dreams last season drive them forward, as they crave the coveted Premier League title. Ødegaard encapsulates this ambition, saying, “I have been dreaming about this since I was a young kid. To win one of the big trophies and especially the Premier League was always something special growing up, so this would be the biggest dream.” For Ødegaard and his teammates, each match is another chance to prove themselves, reinforcing their hunger for success.