Martin Odegaard says he’s impressed by the way some of his teammates cut short their summer holidays to ensure they were suitably prepared for Arsenal’s season-opener with Wolves.
After discussions with Mikel Arteta, David Raya, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale, all involved in the final of Euro 2024, reported for duty a week earlier than colleagues at other clubs with a view to hitting the ground running.
Raya and Saka went on to make telling contributions in Saturday’s season opener against Wolves, the former making a couple of acrobatic saves to preserve a clean sheet and the latter assisting his side’s opener before scoring in the second half.
“A lot of respect to the guys who played in the Euros and then had a short break and came straight here and delivered – especially after the season we had, which was so tough and a lot of games,” Odegaard told ESPN.
“It just shows how professional they all are and the level we are at now. I am really happy.”
Other players to start on Saturday after a summer of international football included Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz.
“As soon as we finished the last game [of last season] everyone said we just wanted to come back even stronger,” added Odegaard.
“We have done that in pre-season, the ones who came early, the ones who came later, I think it is just the level we are at, how connected we are, and how aligned we are. We all want the same thing, so it was easy.”
Odegaard reserved special praise for Saka’s continued dedication to his craft. The England international has 59 goals and 54 assists in 227 appearances and doesn’t turn 23 for another couple of weeks.
“He will just get better and bette. You see him every day in training, he is working so hard and he is working on all the small details to get better,” said Odegaard.
“I am sure he is just going to improve and improve. I can’t wait to see where he takes it.
“There is no roof for this guy. It is unbelievable the quality that he has and how professional he is, how much he loves the game and how much he puts into it every day.
“The sky is the limit for him. I am just happy to have him on my team and we have got to help him to improve all the time and push him. I am really happy for him.”
Saka is our starboy. Though we need to find similar for Saliba and Odegaard, both fantastic too. Any offers?
Saka’s output is gonna be scary as long as he stays fit. I like how since last season he’s been mixing up his shots and going near post, instead of the far post curler, all the time. Opposition keepers won’t be able to guess him now and set themselves from early
Yeah. I’ve been thinking a lot about Saka and Martinelli. It feels to me like they are opposites in every way. And what I mean by that is that Saka can do very little in a game but then produce two moments of magic and we win 2-0. Martinelli does loads in games. He’s always involved. He’s explosive. He beats players and gets endlessly stuck in. He gets the crowd on its feet. But as regards end product, he’s severely lacking. Even those games where he made Trent look like Andre Santos, he didn’t score, he didn’t assist. Whereas Saka… Read more »
I agree. I think Martinelli has become predictable as opposed to Saka (as mentioned above). He needs to work on details and hopefully he does this season.
Yeah. I reckon he’s just overthinking it.
I had a lot of erection problems in my late teens and early twenties.
So I can relate…
But I would add, as a message of hope to Martinelli and any other nervous lovers out there.
You finally get one and more follow.
All Martinelli needs is to go back to the basics and the end product will come. A beautiful flowing move on Saturday would have given Rice a clear shot at goal if he didn’t opt to go himself from an acute angle. An assist is more valuable than a narrow miss in the statistics column.
I don’t think Saka is a low-touch, low involvement player who suddenly scores or assists–that might describe Trossard (or Aubameyang). I see Saka as constantly involved in the intricate right-sided triangles with White and Ødegaard. Sometimes though, opponents’ doubling-up on our right means there is a lot of room on the left and someone like Zinchenko (or Granit Xhaka) is able to release Martinelli making one of his (very fast) runs behind. I think that’s what happened with Wolves.
Agree, Saka is involved a lot but he just isn’t always as flashy as other wingers, including Martinelli. He plays with his head up and plans two steps ahead, looking for passes and space before necessarily taking his man on. That’s what really sets him apart, his decision making is off the charts for a winger. That being said, Martinelli doesn’t necessarily have to play like that and there’s a lot to be said for his more direct style. A couple of seasons ago I would have said he was a better finisher/poacher than Saka, he needs to regain that… Read more »
There’s been a clear shift away from using him that way this season. The buildup is more left focused with Martin dropping in there as well, and then they look to hit Bukayo with quick switches. That in theory will give him more 1 v 1 opportunities and back post tap ins and create a more sustainable system for chance creation. He’s been working on his heading too, you can tell. He could be up for a LOT of goals and assists with this setup.
Just so I’m totally clear this is an intentional way of both unburdening Saka from having to make everything happen against settled blocks and double triple teams. It will also increase his chances for end product opportunities. He will look less involved until suddenly he scores again.
The Wenger in me still tells me that Martinelli will become an RVP but for now he is a Dembele. The latter succeeds in getting into opposition boxes like 98% of attempts only to send the ball into the sky or give a bad pass. Both are industrious.
Great Wall of China? ❌
Invisible Roof of Saka? ✅
No wish to be negative, but I do hope that three weeks off for the Euros finalists proves to be enough as the season wears on. Chomping at the bit to get back is admirable, but you could argue that taking adequate rest after an arduous season and before another one is equally professional. Then again, it’s the job of Arteta and the fitness team to manage their minutes, so I hope we can get decent cover in for Saka and Rice in particular.
It is. This is the year Saka becomes a legit Ballon d’Or candidate! Just the start he needed!
Saka and Rice were substituted yesterday (how do you see those two names and substituted in the same sentence, especially Saka who had no issues we may point to?). I think the team is better stocked to manage their minutes with Mikel Merino’s imminent arrival.
I am a BIG advocate of managing players’ minutes and I understand this sentiment.
But I believe Mikel and his staff will find a way to make up for it in the course of the season. The team is STRONG enough now (especially if we add Merino and another winger/attacker) to rest the likes of Saka and Decs for preliminary stages of the cup games. Partey or Jorgi can start for Rice in those games and *the new attacker* or Gabi or Leo for Saka.
I think the management made that cut on the holidays and not the players. Hopefully that will not affect the mood.