Captaincy duel of fire and ice
Arsenal’s is cool, calm and collected, United’s is a cauldron of rage and emotion
AFTER night fell last Saturday, and the hours ticked down to a crucial north London derby, Martin Odegaard started to feel unwell. It wasn’t nerves. In the end, it wasn’t much help to Tottenham, either.
The Arsenal captain hauled himself out of bed to score the decisive second goal and then dragged his team out of harm’s way as limbs began to fly from the stands.
Then, despite his long night, Odegaard found time for a chat with someone he had met recently. They also happened to work for Tottenham. The staff member was blown away; Odegaard was puzzled. How could manners mean so much?
Perhaps that paints a depressing picture of what we expect from footballers these days. Or perhaps derby day was the finest illustration yet of why Odegaard has become Arsenal’s beating heart.
That long-range drive took his tally of goals and assists to 13 — already more than last season. With Mikel Arteta’s side five points clear at the top ahead of hosting Manchester United tomorrow, is there a finer creative midfielder in the country right now?
Behind closed doors, meanwhile, his blend of ruthless professionalism and quiet diplomacy has helped unite a young squad.
To think it was considered good business by Real Madrid when, in 2021, they sold him for £31million. To think some questioned Arteta last summer when he handed the armband to a 23-year-old with few of the typical job requirements.
He will never be someone who drives others through noise or personality alone. One fan site suggested Odegaard’s appointment symbolised a lack of leadership in north London. How would he break the curse of Arsenal’s armband, the circus that has followed captains from William Gallas to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?
Well, 18 games later, Arsenal have more points at this stage than the Invincibles. And Odegaard is playing the best football of his career.
Rather than being burdened by responsibility, he has scaled even greater heights. To those who know him, the dots are easy to join. Too often after leaving Norway for Madrid, aged just 16, Odegaard found himself in purgatory — out on loan or in no man’s land between Real’s first and B teams.
‘You get to a point where the easiest thing you can do is be a little bit on your own,’ a source says.
Now, at last, Odegaard has found his place. A home. And the total confidence of his manager. ‘That’s what he has needed all this time,’ someone close to Odegaard adds. Turns out he might be what this club needed, too.
At 24, Odegaard has already seen so many sides of football. He is mature and emotionally intelligent beyond his years. So much so that the midfielder has become a valuable source of advice and support for players such as Bukayo Saka.
‘Martin is not someone to scream and shout but if he thinks someone is not OK, he’ll put an arm around them. And if he thinks something is out of line, he’ll be the first one to back up his teammates,’ a source says. ‘He has that edge when he needs it.’
The contrast with Aubameyang, who amassed a ‘catalogue of misdemeanours’, is hard to escape.
This is leadership by example. Back in Norway, they remember the relentless work ethic of a child prodigy. These days, he is often the last to leave the training ground after extra hours in the gym. Or more meetings. The midfielder sometimes eats lunch with staff members to understand more about their role and the club.
Last week, Odegaard turned up to the launch of Arsenal’s new stadium artwork. It was a few days before the derby and the message was clear: no pressure. But he jumped at a chance to meet club legends and hear tales from down the years. People remember that stuff. Listening matters.
For Arteta, however, a leader needs one quality above all others: ‘When you talk, they listen.’ He explained: ‘You have to be able to transmit your thoughts and ideas in a powerful way so you’re able to inspire people.’
Odegaard has earned respect of players and staff. Not by shouting or talking all the time. But knowing when to speak and when to delegate.
Nothing overly glamorous. But crucial to strengthening bonds. ‘A real shift’ has begun, according to one source. ‘That’s largely because of Martin.’
Connecting people off the pitch, as he has done all season on it.