Erling Haaland raves about Arsenal’s ‘incredible footballer’ who cost Gunners just £30m

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With club rivalries thawing during the international break, Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland cannot speak highly enough of a player looking to steal his Premier League crown in the red of Arsenal.

In truth, you could probably fit all the things Erling Haaland has not achieved in club football on the back of a sticky note.

A treble winner, European Champion, Golden Boot winner in multiple countries. You name it, Manchester City’s Terminator-like number nine has done it.

But, with Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard still recovering from an ankle injury, Norway’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Slovenia on Thursday will bring about a piece of personal history for Haaland.

For the very first time, and during his 36th cap in international football, Haaland will lead his beloved Norway out with the captain’s armband around his bicep.

Erling Haaland hails Arsenal and Norway captain Martin Odegaard

“I think the most important thing is to be yourself,” Haaland said during a pre-match press conference, keen to ensure the pressure of such a role does not known his usually laser-like focus.

“Just like every time I go out and play for Norway, it’s nice. I’m looking forward to it! I will be myself, as always. I don’t think it’s useful to try to be someone else.

“That’s what I will do.”

Haaland scored the winner as Norway, perhaps the great underachievers of this modern generation in international football, defeated Euro 2024 surprise packages Austria in their opening match of the Nations League campaign.

Stale Solbakken’s often uninspiring team were then held to a stalemate by Kazakhstan, however.

And Haaland, often starved of service for his country despite his near goal-per-game record, may find chances even harder to come by; Norway at risk of firing blanks without the ammunition that Martin Odegaard provides.

“We will miss him,” Haaland says of Odegaard, the Arsenal playmaker having also been unavailable for that dramatic top-of-the-table clash between the two rivals a fortnight ago at the Etihad.

“He is, first and foremost, an amazing person and then an incredible footballer. But we have to do our best without him and try to succeed.”

Kai Havertz lauds Odegaard leadership even during Arsenal absence

In Odegaard’s absence, RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa and Bodo/Glimt’s former AC Milan prospect Jens Pette Hauge will be among those under pressure to step up.

Haaland, meanwhile, could be flanked by Atletico Madrid hitman Alexander Sorloth or Wolves’ targetman Jorgen Strand Larsen. Solbakken often utilises one of his towering targetmen in a wider role.

Odegaard, speaking to Arsenal’s matchday programme before Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Southampton 3-1 on Saturday, confirmed that he was making real progress in his attempts to return to the pitch.

Even during his absence, the former Real Madrid starlet has remained as vocal as ever behind the scenes.

“I don’t know how long he is injured now, maybe two weeks. But every day he’s here, every day he’s in the meetings and speaks to us,” Arsenal forward Kai Havertz explains.

“I think he’s the perfect captain for a team like us where we have so many young players and players who can progress. He’s there for everyone, not only off the pitch.

“To be honest, before I came to Arsenal, I didn’t think he would speak so much in the dressing room and stuff like that. But he speaks a lot and in the dressing room before the game. He is also there on the pitch when things are not going your way.

“You need someone [like him] to step up.”