Odegaard on his injury-hit season: 'So many punches in the face'

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Martin Odegaard has spoken publicly about the injury problems that wrecked his previous campaign, describing a year in which his body repeatedly let him down despite everything he did to stay fit.

The Arsenal captain endured a stop-start season plagued by several setbacks, robbing him of the rhythm and consistency that had defined his earlier years in north London. Every time he appeared to be back, another problem arrived.

Odegaard reflects on a season to forget

Speaking about the contrast between last season and the current one, Odegaard did not hide how difficult the experience was. His comments, carried by Sport Witness, made clear the mental toll of a year spent in and out of the treatment room.

"Compared to last year – which was a very peculiar season with numerous injuries and various other issues – things are different now," the Norwegian said.

He added: "When you do everything, you can every day to take care of your body, yet still get so many punches in the face, it's obviously tough."

It is a rare glimpse into the frustration behind the scenes for a player who has generally kept his public comments measured. The repeated setbacks meant Odegaard was never able to string together the run of matches needed to find his best form, and Arsenal were left without one of their most influential players for long stretches.

A different story this season

The 2026-27 campaign has started on a different footing. Odegaard arrived back at the club in better physical condition following his contribution to Norway's World Cup campaign, and the tone of his comments suggests he feels the worst is behind him.

That matters for Arteta's side. Odegaard remains the creative axis of the team — the player who links midfield to attack, sets the tempo in possession and does an enormous amount of unseen work out of possession. Arsenal have squad depth in central areas, but there is no direct replacement for what the Norwegian offers between the lines.

The club's challenge now is managing his workload across a long season that includes domestic and European commitments. After a year in which availability was the biggest issue, keeping Odegaard on the pitch is arguably as valuable as any addition made in the transfer market.

His words also underline something that often gets lost in the discussion around injury-prone players: the preparation and recovery work does not always guarantee results. Odegaard's admission that he did everything possible and still suffered repeated blows speaks to how little control a player can have over these situations.

For now, the focus shifts to the fixtures ahead, with Odegaard fit, available and determined to put a difficult year firmly in the rear-view mirror.