Throughout the season, Martin Odegaard will raise the lid on life in our altering room by penning his captain’s column within the official Arsenal matchday programme.
Here, to rejoice the beginning of the new Premier League marketing campaign, we’ve got reproduced his notes in full forward of the go to of Coventry City, because the skipper discusses his title-clinching feelings, the World Cup, a man-of-the-match show within the Community Shield, and how the new boys are wanting:
Let me begin by saying how magical the tip of final season was, and a big thanks to each single Arsenal supporter
It was simply unbelievable to raise the trophy at Selhurst Park, a feeling that’s troublesome to explain. It’s surreal when one thing you’ve got been working so arduous in direction of for therefore lengthy lastly occurs. I’d been mainly dreaming about that second my complete life, so when it occurs it’s all a bit loopy. It’s obscure and describe within the second, but it surely was superb.
It’s all so clear in my thoughts, being collectively on the coaching floor once we received the league, lifting the trophy, and then the parade afterwards. Seeing so lots of you there was unbelievable. It’s a particular, particular reminiscence for all of us that might be with us without end. It confirmed what a huge membership we’re. Thank you from our hearts.
After that I went straight to the World Cup, and that was actually good as properly. We had a nice match as a nation, higher than anybody anticipated actually. The complete nation was on hearth supporting us – we’ve by no means seen something prefer it in Norway. The scenes in the course of the video games, and to see all these individuals coming collectively to essentially get pleasure from it, was particular. The approach we had been in a position to carry out as properly made it even higher.
The spotlight for me was positively the Brazil sport. Growing up we’d heard a lot in regards to the 1998 World Cup when Norway beat Brazil, it’s most likely been the spotlight of Norwegian soccer since I used to be born. So to have the prospect to beat them ourselves was simply so good! Congratulations to David, Mikel and Zubi for successful the match. It’s such a big achievement for them, and we’re so proud as teammates of all three of them.
After the World Cup I had the prospect to have a good break. I mainly simply stayed in Norway for the remainder of the summer time, spending time with my household and associates there. The climate was nice, and it was very nice to be again residence for a bit, spend time there and prepare for the new season.
So I’m feeling actually good and the Community Shield was the right approach to come again to aggressive soccer. Winning a trophy is one of the simplest ways to return, and we performed rather well too, it was a nice efficiency from everybody.
I used to be happy with my objective too, after a nice transfer from the workforce. Christos had the ball on the sting and I used to be simply ready to see if I may get it or not. I managed to get to it first and after that it was simply intuition. I didn’t actually assume a lot about it, I simply did all of it within the second. Then when the keeper went down it was straightforward to place the ball in. Maybe you don’t see these varieties of objectives typically, so I loved it, it was a good one. I may hear Kai behind me celebrating already earlier than I’d scored in order that made me chortle!
I believed it was a sturdy efficiency all spherical, particularly with a few of our new gamers in there as properly. Illan, Christos and Bruno have all settled rather well. Illan is such a good man, a actual arduous employee and actually good across the group. He’s nice in coaching, very skilled and a actually constructive man to have round. He’s proven his stage already in pre-season when he’s had the prospect, so he’s a good addition for certain.
As for Christos, everybody has seen his qualities already – very energetic, very harmful, and each time he will get on the ball he makes one thing occur. He’s a very clever participant as properly.
Bruno is a man all of us knew very properly from earlier than in fact – we had a lot of battles with him! He’s been superb since he got here in, such a good participant and you could possibly see simply from his 45 minutes final weekend how good he might be for us. He’s a participant we at all times spoke about every time we performed Newcastle as somebody who may dictate their sport if we weren’t at our greatest, so it’s nice to have him on our facet now.
We’ve additionally mentioned goodbye to a few gamers as properly, which is a part of soccer. It’s at all times arduous to see guys depart after sharing a lot collectively, and changing into shut after dwelling every single day collectively. It occurs with gamers and employees too, and with Leo particularly, I might spend a lot of time with him. Christian Norgaard too – due to all of them for all the things they gave to the membership. We’re going to overlook them for certain, they’re superb guys. Of course we want all of them one of the best and hope they are going to be completely satisfied at their new golf equipment.
For us now we go into the new Premier League marketing campaign with extra confidence than ever earlier than, having received it final season. We’ve proven that we will do it, now it is about displaying that we will do it once more. I believe the mindset from everyone seems to be that we do not really feel like we’ll defend something, we’re going to assault it and we’re going to go for it once more.
Every season beforehand, once we hadn’t received it, I at all times mentioned we have to be taught from what we did, and be sure we enhance. Well, it’s precisely the identical while you win. You can nonetheless be taught a lot from that, each the nice and the unhealthy. You have to analyse what you’ll be able to enhance, and additionally have a look at what we’re doing properly, and change into even higher at that too.
So this 12 months let’s attempt to do it once more, even higher than earlier than, much more than earlier than, and there are extra trophies to play for as properly. I can really feel that everybody is prepared and hungry for extra. You really feel that while you’ve accomplished it as soon as, it offers you that further confidence and perhaps a little bit extra calm, to know that you are able to do it once more. We have to point out that we’re able to doing it once more, and that’s a good feeling, it’s a good enhance for the beginning of the season.
And for me that is one of the simplest ways to begin, with a night sport at Emirates Stadium below the lights. We know Coventry might be giving completely all the things as properly, as a newly-promoted workforce, so we’ve got no selection however to be at our greatest from the very first whistle.
We’re actually wanting ahead to being again on the pitch right here within the Premier League, in entrance of all of our supporters. I do know you’ll carry the power and the noise once more. We can’t wait.
Read Martin’s notes, in addition to a host of different improbable content material, by shopping for the Arsenal v Coventry City programme both across the stadium or online, or subscribe to receive every issue delivered to your door all through the season.