Martin Odegaard enjoyed a highly fruitful loan spell with Arsenal in the second half of last season.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Martin Odegaard who has signed on a permanent deal from Real Madrid on Friday. Odegaard impressed one and all during his loan spell with the club in the second half of last season. The attacking midfielder was named as the Player of the Month for March, having made his presence felt with fantastic performances. Arteta believes that Odegaard’s addition made Arsenal a better team last season, highlighting his experience in different clubs.
“Well a lot of things that he (Odegaard) brought last season. He made us better, we needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players that can be morals for this football club. He is still a really young man but he has huge experience in different clubs already. Odegaard has a unique talent based on the way we want to play so I’m delighted that the club has made an effort and we have Martin on a permanent deal here,” said Arteta as quoted by Arsenal’s official website.
The Arsenal manager further shared a massive update over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has been linked with the club in recent times. Arteta confirmed that Ramsdale had already completed most of the procedures involved in the medical, with some paperwork getting done as well.
Arsenal suffered a defeat by a 2-0 margin in their opening encounter of the Premier League against Brentford. Arteta believes that the massive uncertainty surrounding the availability of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played a key role.
“Putting things in to perspective, We had an incredible 48 hours before that match. It created a big uncertainty and probably an unprecedented Arsenal line up. We tried everything that we had in that game, but it didn’t work out.”
“We knew the consequences of that externally, what it was going to mean, but internally the reaction has been incredibly positive. It’s one day of Premier League football, we have the whole season ahead of us, and any negativity that’s going to try and surround this football club is going to be out of these walls.”
A lot of fans have called for Arteta to be sacked, with Antonio Conte the man linked with the managerial role. Many experts have further criticised the former Arsenal footballer, which has definitely created a tense atmosphere.
“If you don’t feel pressure in football or any elite sport then I think you’ve picked the wrong profession. I think it’s responsibility, not pressure, we have a responsibility to do our best under any circumstances. Unfortunately the circumstances are uncontrollable.”
“The only thing that’s going to happen is something you don’t expect, that’s for sure! Then you have to try to adapt, and do the best you can. The rest is about the results, and you know you are going to be judged on those results, but it doesn’t mean you are doing a good or bad job because you win or lose football matches.”
Arsenal will seen taking on Chelsea in their next Premier League encounter. It will certainly be interesting to see if Arteta’s men can pull off a comeback win.
