Martin Odegaard Makes Telling Admission About Arsenal Team-Mate After Olympiacos Victory

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard returned to the starting lineup with a bang on Wednesday night, delivering a man of the match performance as the Gunners eased past Olympiacos 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League.

Back in the XI after a shoulder injury, Odegaard pulled the strings in midfield, assisting both of Arsenal’s goals and demonstrating once again why he’s the heartbeat of Mikel Arteta’s side.

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Odegaard’s Creative Brilliance Sparks Arsenal Win

The Norwegian midfielder was instrumental in both goals. His perfectly timed through ball found Viktor Gyokeres, whose run led to a tap-in for Gabriel Martinelli. In stoppage time, Odegaard provided yet another assist, setting up Bukayo Saka to seal the three points.

It was a welcome return to form and fitness for Odegaard, who had been out of the starting lineup for five games due to injury. Asked about his performance and the impact of summer signing Eberechi Eze, Odegaard admitted that the growing depth in the Arsenal squad is pushing every player to elevate their game.

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Odegaard: “You Want to Prove You Deserve It”

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Odegaard responded to Martin Keown’s question about whether Eze’s presence in the squad helped fuel his performance.

“I think the quality and the depth — we have so many players who can play — so it’s just a feeling from every single player now on the pitch.

You want to prove that you deserve it, you want to keep your spot. I think that’s good for us, that competitiveness and the competition in the squad.”

Odegaard’s comments reflect a broader shift in mentality at Arsenal, where Arteta’s increasingly competitive squad demands high performance from every player, every game.

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Back With a Bang

The Olympiacos match marked Odegaard’s first start in nearly a month, having come off the bench to assist a goal in Arsenal’s recent 2-1 win over Newcastle. Despite limited minutes, the midfielder looked sharp and motivated, relishing his return to action.

“It was nice to be back. I have missed it and I felt good, and it was a good win,” Odegaard added.

With the Gunners now sitting comfortably atop their Champions League group and fighting on multiple fronts this season, Odegaard’s return to full fitness could not have come at a better time.

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Arsenal’s Depth Could Be Key

Mikel Arteta made six changes to his starting eleven against Olympiacos, with big names like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Eze starting from the bench. It’s a luxury the Arsenal boss has not always had — but one that could prove pivotal as the season progresses.

Whether it’s Champions League nights or Premier League title chases, Martin Odegaard is ready — and thanks to squad depth, he’s being pushed to be better than ever.