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Martin Odegaard reveals Mikel Arteta’s ‘crucial’ role in convincing him to join Arsenal
Norwegian midfielder links up with the Gunners on loan from Real Madrid
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Your support makes all the difference.Martin Odegaard has revealed Mikel Arteta’s “ideas” and the way he likes to play football persuaded him to join Arsenal.
The Norwegian midfielder has signed on loan with the Gunners from Real Madrid.
And the 22-year-old has outlined the “crucial” role the Spanish manager played in his move to the Emirates.
"I spoke to him before coming here, of course," Odegaard told Arsenal.com.
"That was very important for me and he seems like a top manager and I liked his ideas, the way he sees football and also the way he is.
"He gave me a great feeling and that was important for me to come here. He was crucial.
"I think every time you go to a new place, you want to make sure that it feels good and that there is a plan. But I think everything here just seems good.
"I like the club and I always liked the way that the club wants to play. Everything about the club and now how the manager wants to play, I think it's a club that really suits me well. So I think it's a good match."
While Odegaard has revealed the inspiration he took from a former Arsenal star, Cesc Fabregas, who he enjoyed watching while growing up.
“In Norway, the Premier League is really big,” Odegaard told Arsenal.com. “Since I was a little kid there, we always watched all the games, me and my friends.
“I think it's the biggest league, especially in Norway, so for me it's always been a dream to play in the Premier League and I always liked the way Arsenal played and everything about the club. So it's a dream come true in many ways.
“There were a lot [of Arsenal players I admired]. But I think Fabregas, for me, was one of my idols when I grew up. So especially him.
“The way he controls the game, the way he dictated the game, his ability to give assists and also score goals. Everything about his game. I tried to learn as much as possible when I grew up watching him. He was the top player.”
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