Martin Ødegaard has hailed the immediate influence of summer arrivals Bruno Guimarães and Christos Tzolis following Arsenal’s Community Shield triumph against Manchester City on Sunday. He also believes the reigning Premier League champions are capable of challenging for several honours this season.
Arsenal produced an outstanding display in Cardiff, overwhelming the previous season’s FA Cup winners and establishing a 3-0 advantage within 48 minutes. Tzolis, who completed a £34m move from Club Brugge, created the second goal for Kai Havertz before providing Ødegaard with the pass that led to Arsenal’s third shortly after the interval. Guimarães delivered an authoritative performance in his first start since his £75m transfer from Newcastle, making way for Declan Rice at half-time. Ødegaard said the Brazilian midfielder has adapted to his new surroundings with remarkable ease.
“He has looked completely at home from the moment he arrived,” the Norway international said. “We had some intense contests against him before, but he has settled into this group as though he has always belonged here. His ability is obvious. He fights for possession and wins the ball, while also offering tremendous composure and skill when he has it at his feet. He never appears rushed, understands when to hold on to the ball and usually picks the correct pass. It is fantastic to see. Christos also deserves credit, because it is encouraging when new arrivals can contribute so quickly.”
A series of injuries restricted Ødegaard to 16 Premier League starts and one goal last season. However, after rediscovering his rhythm while helping Norway advance to the World Cup quarter-finals during the summer, the 27-year-old is eager to play a more significant role for his club. “Being unavailable for so many matches last season was extremely difficult,” he said. “I have tried to turn that disappointment into motivation, come back stronger and learn something positive from those experiences. I naturally want to contribute more goals and assists while helping the team in every possible way. This was an encouraging start to the campaign.”
Arsenal open their title defence at home to newly promoted Coventry on Friday evening. After overcoming City, Ødegaard expects the team to set an early standard for the season ahead. “Our aim was to demonstrate the level we can reach,” he said about the victory against Enzo Maresca’s team. “Winning the league last season was a major achievement, but our ambitions are even greater now. We want to retain the championship and compete strongly for every other trophy available. There is plenty for us to pursue, although we also know that many areas of our game can still improve.”
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