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Arsenal star Martin Odegaard shows quality Mikel Arteta will love amid club crisis
Arsenal star Martin Odegaard signed from Real Madrid in the transfer window this summer.
Arteta: 'Still some things' for Arsenal to do in window
Arsenal star Martin Odegaard asserted himself over the international break with Norway, showing a quality that Mikel Arteta is desperate for. It comes as the Gunners go through a turbulent time in the Premier League.
Arsenal boss Arteta will be over the moon with Odegaard after signing him in the transfer window.
It comes after the midfielder showed his international teammates his leadership after some terrible form from Norway.
The playmaker was brought in from Real Madrid on a permanent basis after Arteta made him a top target over the summer transfer window.
The Gunners coach was impressed by the 22-year-old during his loan period last season when he joined in January.
A creative midfielder was top of the order and Odegaard was brought in for around £30million in a major boost to the club.
But one attribute that Arteta might not have known about was his leadership qualities.
And those were exhibited by the former Real Sociedad loanee during the international break after he became infuriated with his country’s form.
Norway sit third in their World Cup qualifying group after losing to Turkey earlier in the year.
They also tasted defeat in a friendly against Greece while only just landing a win over Luxembourg.
This international break, the Scandinavian nation drew 1-1 with the Netherlands before beating Latvia 2-0 on Saturday.
According to TV2, it was Odegaard - who was appointed captain earlier in the year - who held a meeting with his teammates without the coaching staff present.
“We spoke completely freely and openly. Everyone got to air what they had on their minds,” the Arsenal ace said.
“We have played many big matches in recent years, but have not managed to solve it optimally all the time. We thought it was good to have a chat about how we avoid making new mistakes.
“We have played many important matches where we have subsequently come and said that we should do this and that.
“This time we thought it was okay that we got to air everything in advance. It was not something revolutionary, we really just had a chat.
“It was really about what has happened over several years. At least since I joined the national team, we have not been quite where we should be during big matches. I feel the response after the chat was very good.”