Martin Odegaard is ready to embrace the heat of battle when Arsenal host Manchester City in a mouth-watering Premier League clash at the Emirates on Sunday.
The rivalry between the two clubs has escalated with the Gunners coming closest to dethroning Pep Guardiola’s side for the past two seasons.
The last meeting between Arsenal and City in September reached boiling point, with Erling Haaland launching a ball at Gabriel’s head before telling Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” as players and staff from both sides clashed at the full-time whistle.
Odegaard, who missed the match at the Etihad through injury, said: “It is normal that when you play in these big games that there is a big rivalry because you are competing and you want to be the best.
“We’ve been fighting against each other for the title so (the rivalry escalating) is a natural thing.
“That’s how it should be and there should be a little bit of heat sometimes. And that is something everyone will have in mind going into the game – supporters and players – and maybe it brings that extra tension.
“With the history, this one is maybe more special. However, it is just three points and that’s the goal. They are a top team, top players, and it is going to be a big fight.”
Odegaard is international team-mates with Haaland for Norway and he admitted he has been in dialogue with the City star, who has scored six times in his last last outings, in the build-up to Sunday’s match.
“We are good friends,” said Odegaard. “Him and a few of the other boys from the national team, we have a little group chat, so we stay in touch, and we speak every now and then, not about football, just about random things.
“We haven’t spoken about the game, but he is a good friend, so I speak to him.”
Reflecting on Haaland’s reaction after the match at the Etihad, Odegaard continued: “In games like this, the emotions are so high and the adrenaline is there. That’s something that can happen on the pitch and then when you walk off the pitch, you are done with it.”
Forward together 🤝 pic.twitter.com/XrU6zzlJw5
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 31, 2025
City’s bid to win a fifth consecutive Premier League crown has unravelled following six defeats this season. However, a win in north London would take them to within three points of the Gunners.
For Arsenal, they could be as many as nine points behind Liverpool by the time they face City, with Arne Slot’s table-toppers travelling to Bournemouth 24 hours earlier.
However, Odegaard remains confident he can still realise his childhood ambition by lifting the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
He concluded: “That is the big goal and I have been dreaming about this since I was a young kid – to win one of the big trophies and especially the Premier League was always something special growing up so this would be the biggest dream.
“It’s what we work for every day. It’s important to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead. Just focus on the day by day, and keep going, and hopefully in the end we will be rewarded.”
