Martin Odegaard signs huge new Arsenal contract as Gunners captain reveals why it was a ‘no-brainer’ to extend deal
MARTIN ODEGAARD has signed a new Arsenal contract which will keep him at the Emirates until 2028.
The Gunners captain becomes one of the highest paid players at the club and the sixth senior member of Mikel Arteta’s team in the past year to commit his long future to the Gunners.
And the 24-year-old Norwegian international insists it was “a no brainer” to follow Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Magalhaes in penning a new deal.
Odegaard, who joined Arsenal in a £35million move from Real Madrid in 2021, says: “This was such an easy decision for me because I’ve felt at home here since my very first day at Arsenal.
“The first time I spoke to Mikel Arteta, I knew he was a great coach and that I wanted to work with him.
“I was immediately convinced by all the things he said to me about what he wanted to do with the team, how he wanted to play, how he saw my qualities and how he saw me fitting into his system.
“He is so smart. He sees so many details you don’t even think about. He’s capable of making you understand football in a different way because the way he explains everything makes sense.
“And the fact that so many players have agreed new contracts just shows what we are doing as a club.
“People want to be here as part of the project because what we are doing is really special and with so many hungry young players, it’s a great place to be.”
Odegaard admits that the pressure of expectation has risen after helping Arsenal to finish runners-up to Manchester City in last season’s Premier League title race.
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But with the club back in the Champions League and looking forward to Sunday’s North London derby against Spurs, he would not have it any other way.
He says: “We have a bigger squad with more depth to compete for the major trophies and I’m very confident in what we’re doing.
“We can play in many different ways and we will need the whole squad to cope with so many competitions this season.
“Being the captain of Arsenal is a big honour and I am very proud to do it. It’s been a good thing for me and I am growing with the responsibility.
“I am still young and I am sure I can improve a lot. There are a lot of things I can do better but I am hungry for more and I am going to keep working hard and fighting to achieve that.”