Mikel Arteta admits Martin Odeagaard is "brutal" with his own demands as a discussion about making him Arsenal captain proved pivotal.
The Norwegian is preparing for his third full season at the Emirates and has become a hugely influential figure, donning the armband for a young side that appears very much on the rise. Odegaard's No 10 role puts him at the centre of the team's attacking shape.
By no means the most vocal or animated character on the pitch, but Arteta is adamant his voice has a huge pull when he decides to speak up. The Arsenal boss made it known that the captaincy would come with added responsibility and it was on Odegaard to go about it in the right way.
He told Marca on his captain's rise: "I think it is his merit. His self-demand is brutal, he understands everything very well and learns quickly. We help him by giving him responsibility and confidence by making him a captain. I explained it to him: 'With this will come more demands and your ability to transmit will be the key. Be you,' I told him.
"Martin is very reserved, but when he speaks, he is heard. He does everything required: he takes care of himself; he cares and improves others; he has education, love for the game, commitment... And it has been believed that he has to play closer to the area: touch it less and reach more.
"His numbers are very good: the interior with the most goals in the history of the Premier along with Lampard. And he can still improve at 24 years old."
Odegaard, like the rest of the Arsenal squad, is coming to terms with a season of what might've been after the Gunners were chased down by Manchester City, who stopped the north Londoners from capturing the most surprising of title triumphs given their pre-season expectations.
The playmaker admitted their shortcomings would likely linger for the remainder of his days. He said: “We competed against the team that has won it all, it was tight and even at the end, especially in the three games [that Arsenal drew], we lost momentum. There are so many things that can affect the season, we were close and we must use the disappointment to go closer.
“I think this will bother me for the rest of my life. We were very close, I almost managed to achieve my dream, I think it will be painful for the rest of my life but we have to try again next year.”
