For Martin Odegaard and Arsenal, this summer is not so different from last.
Once again, the challenge for the Gunners has been crystal clear: take some time to unwind after a gruelling season that produced so much but again delivered no silverware (besides the Community Shield). And, crucially, be ready to go again next term.
How close they came, this time only pipped by Manchester City to the Premier League title on the final day. They are undoubtedly getting closer.
“First of all, it was a good season”, insists Odegaard, speaking from Arsenal’s summer training camp in Marbella. “We made history, and we have to be proud of those things. It wasn’t enough to win it, but in football, it is small margins. We didn’t have the consistency to win it. We know we can improve.
“If you compare last season to the season before, we looked a lot stronger, especially towards the end of the season. I think we looked a lot more mature, more confident.
“We were struggling before Christmas and then we had a little break, went away [to Dubai in January], and got even more together as a group. After that, we came back so strong and were really consistent. We just need a little bit more to win it.”
The Arsenal captain has started his preparations for the new season ahead of plenty of his team-mates, a luxury afforded to Mikel Arteta by virtue of Norway’s failure to qualify for Euro 2024. Others will join up later, after participating in the Euros or Copa America.
Odegaard jetted off to Ibiza for a short holiday with team-mate Kai Havertz after the end of the season. Asked how he relaxes during time off, he replies: “Family, friends, just to be outside football, with the people I love, doing things I can’t normally do and travel. It’s good to do different stuff.
“The summer has been good. I’m pretty disappointed we didn’t qualify for the Euros, so it has been a bit strange to watch the games. I would prefer to be there, but I’ve had some more time to relax and disconnect.
“I think I needed that after what was a long season. We’re here now to start preparing for a big season. It [Marbella] is a nice place to come to train and work and disconnect a little bit after training. [Pre-season] is a good chance to gain some advantage; I have always felt this way.”
Last season was a good season. We made history, and we have to be proud of those things.
Havertz, who joined last summer, scored 13 goals in his first league campaign for the Gunners, but the debate rumbles on within the Arsenal fanbase over whether an out-and-out goalscoring No9 is needed to truly take the club to the next level.
“We have unbelievable quality in the squad and I think we showed what we are capable of, so I am not too worried about that”, Odegaard explains. “That is down to Mikel, [sporting director] Edu and the club to sort those things.”
More determined than ever to lead Arsenal to their first Premier League title since 2003/04, Odegaard assumes the position of the eternal optimist. He believes the Gunners’ growth can only lead to one thing.
“The work ethic and the mentality in the team — we are all thinking about the same thing: we want to win something. We are so well trained now with the system and everyone knows it so well.
“We are a young team as well, so the experience of another year is going to help us. In the end, I’m sure it is going to be rewarded with a trophy.”
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