Martin Odegaard is desperate to get into the Champions League to prove he belongs at Europe’s elite level.
Norway captain Odegaard, 23, has been a driving force in Arsenal's push for the top four this season as the race for European football could be decided in Thursday’s North London derby.
Odegaard did play a couple of Champions League games at Real Madrid plus a qualifier but admits he thinks he never got to show his true quality in the competition. Now there is an even bigger prize at stake as Odegaard looks to make Europe’s elite competition which would be a huge step forward for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal revolution
Odegaard said: “I’ve played there a few games but I don’t feel like I’ve really played there. I really want to get into there and fight. That’s where the best teams want to be of course so that would be big for me and the club.” Arsenal have not finished in the top four since 2016 and the prestige plus extra revenue has been sorely missed at the Emirates.
European football was always this season’s target but top four will be a bonus and could even speed up rebuilding plans. A win at Tottenham would guarantee their place but the battle remains as tight and the nerves have been there for all to see as both North London rivals have slipped up in recent weeks.
It has been spiced up after Arsenal got the original game postponed after just one Covid case in the camp and Tottenham released an angry statement, slamming their neighbours. Arsenal even struggled to get over the line against Leeds on Sunday but Odegaard says that, despite Arteta having a young squad, they can stand the pressure.
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Odegaard said: “Yeah, we have a young team but I think with the young players we have we have a lot of experience as well. We’ve been through a lot and we just enjoy playing football together and you can see that on the pitch. We enjoy it. I think it was a good win against Leeds, an important win. We know the situation we’re on so obviously very happy with the three points. Some parts of the game we have to do better and kill the game but that’s all that matters.
“We know how they play and we know they’ll never give up. We always knew it was going to be a fight until the end. Some parts of the game we can do better and kill the game. But three points is all that matters. That’s all that matters taking the three points.
"We have to win in different ways. Last time at West Ham was not our best game, but we won. This time I think we played really good in some parts and other parts we had to fight. But we get the three points and that’s the most important thing so we’re happy.”
Odegaard’s form and leadership has earned him the armband in recent weeks as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was sold in January and Alexandre Lacazette was left on the bench. He is now favourite to get it on a permanent basis next season but says Arteta has not given him any hints. He added: “No he just told me before the first game against Southampton that I was gonna wear it and that was all.”
