Martin Odegaard: How Arsenal captain has led by example

Odegaard showed his dedication to the Gunners by signing a new contract in September 2023, which will keep him at the club for another five years.

“Martin is vital to connect everything in the way we play,” said Arteta earlier this season.

Asked how much Odegaard drives the team as captain, he added: “A lot. He’s made huge steps. His presence, the way he is behaving himself in front of the group and the standards that he sets is outstanding.”

He has become a firm favourite for the Emirates faithful, too.

Monique calls him a player “any fan and manager would want to captain their team”, adding he is a “marvel talent in midfield and a calm yet authoritative figure that everyone in the team can respect”.

“You can always count on Martin to motivate team-mates when heads may go down,” says the Arsenal content creator.

“He is always the first to amp up the crowd, whether we are winning or at 0-0 looking for that breakthrough goal, a few fist bumps and upwards arm swings is all it takes from the captain to get the Emirates Stadium roaring again.

“Win, lose or draw, Odegaard is always the last to leave the pitch as he circles the ground to applaud every fan for their support.”

If the Gunners captain can help his side successfully negotiate another hurdle in the title challenge across north London at Tottenham on Sunday, that admiration from fans, team-mates and his manager will only continue to grow.