Martin Odegaard has revealed that talks with the Arsenal coaching staff have transformed his mindset and been the catalyst for his stunning form this season.
The Gunners midfielder, who was handed the club captaincy by Mikel Arteta back in the summer, has been influential in the club's unexpected title challenge and led by example once again in Sunday's north London derby, where he scored Arsenal's second goal in an impressive 2-0 win.
Odegaard's crisp 25-yard strike that put the game beyond Tottenham at the weekend was the Norwegian maestro's eight league goal in 17 outings this term. The 24-year-old has also registered five assists for Arsenal, who now have an eight-point cushion ahead of Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League.
Already this term, Odegaard has surpassed his goal contributions for the entire 2021/22 campaign (seven goals, five assists) and is on course to enjoy his most productive season ever.
When he was pressed to explain his remarkable form after the match, Odegaard revealed that hard work and conversations with the Gunners' coaching staff have helped him hit the goal trail.
He told Viaplay: "It’s about how we play and my role in the team and my focus; I’ve worked on it a lot. I’ve talked a lot with the coaches about getting into the right areas of the field. It’s a lot about the mindset, and a lot more. It’s nice that hard work pays off."
Odegaard has stepped things up a gear since the World Cup, where has notched two goals and three assists in just four matches. And his form has convinced Rio Ferdinand that Odegaard could rival Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland when the time comes to crown the Premier League's player of the year.
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"Odegaard is nuts. Do you know, what I like about Odegaard is his journey. He was a child superstar at 16, bought by Real Madrid, everyone was saying this kid's the next. He might not be the guy he is now without that part of his history," Ferdinand told Vibe with Five.
"There's been trials and tribulations, expectations have been through the roof. And all of a sudden he's had to humble himself, go on loan.
"For a player to go on loan at a much less stature of club with pride and ego, you have to humble yourself, come back, build yourself up then go to Arsenal, take the captaincy and run with it.
"I'd go as far as to say right now, he's probably my player of the year. Haaland has done what he's done, he has been great, don't get me wrong. If Haaland eases up with the goals and Arsenal win the league and Odegaard continues, he's my player of the year."
