Odegaard says last season 'felt really strange' after injury hit campaign
Martin Odegaard has opened up on just how different this season feels compared to last, insisting his return to form is simply down to being fit again after a campaign ravaged by injuries.
The Arsenal captain's winner against Hull was the third time he has scored three goals in the opening ten games of a Premier League season, a notable return given he managed only one league goal in the entirety of last season's title winning campaign.
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Speaking after the win, Odegaard explained the contrast between the two seasons. “Obviously, compared to last season, it's completely different. It was a frustrating one with all the injuries and lots of bad luck. It was hard to get into a rhythm,” he said, as quoted by football.london.
“This season I feel good. I feel like I've done well to get back to my best level. Honestly, I haven't changed a lot. I think last year was a lot of bad luck. I had some weird injuries, twice with my shoulder and then two knee injuries. Last season felt really strange, so it feels great to be back to normal.”
A familiar start for Arsenal
Odegaard also scored three times in the opening ten matches of both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. The 2022-23 campaign was the only other occasion Arsenal won nine of their first ten Premier League matches, a run that preceded a title challenge which eventually slipped away in April that year, when an eight point lead disappeared within 17 days and the club finished five points behind Manchester City.
Only six other teams in Premier League history have collected at least 27 points from their opening ten matches. Four of those sides finished with 28 points and went on to win the title, while the two that had exactly 27 finished as runners-up. Newcastle's fast start in 1995-96 famously fell apart as Manchester United reeled them in, prompting Kevin Keegan's “I'd love it” outburst.
Odegaard believes the disappointment of 2022-23 has ultimately strengthened this current Arsenal squad. “I feel like we've grown every season, with everything that's happened to us. We came really close for two or three years, finishing second. I think we learned a lot from that,” he said.
“Then obviously last year, to get through the way we did, I think the team has grown a lot mentally and become a lot stronger. I just feel like we're a lot stronger at the moment. It's great to see where we're at.”
Room for more
That resilience has extended to the back line too. Four seasons ago, an injury to William Saliba played a significant role in Arsenal's late season collapse, but this time around the club has kept seven clean sheets in ten league games despite his absence, with summer signing Ezri Konsa stepping in.
Odegaard, who scored the winner after Noni Madueke's 72nd minute effort was saved, believes there remains more in the tank for Mikel Arteta's side. “I think we should be able to kill the game off a bit better. Get that first goal earlier and then create more. Be even more dangerous in and around the box. There are things we can definitely do better,” he added.
