'Perfect': Mikel Arteta says all the Arsenal staff absolutely love £34m player

By Giuseppe Labellarte

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has waxed lyrical about Gunners captain Martin Odegaard ahead of their Premier League opener.

Last week, Arsenal confirmed that the 23-year-old had become the Gunners’ new permanent skipper ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

Odegaard has made a significant impact at Arsenal since his initial loan move from Real Madrid in January 2021.

Arsenal then snapped the Norway captain up in the summer for a reported £34million.

Odegaard has played 60 games for the Gunners and established himself as one of their most consistent players.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting with Crystal Palace, the Arsenal media team asked Arteta about the decision to make Odegaard captain.

“This season we had the opportunity to do it in the way that I believe could work,” said the Arsenal boss.

“Martin has been with us for 18 months. And in my opinion is a player who represents the values of this football club in the perfect way.

“He’s well respected by everybody around the team. He’s admired by all the staff, he has the experience even though he’s 23, he has done it for the national team.

“He has a passion about the game that he promotes every single day around the club and the way he plays.

“So I’m really happy to have someone like him and he’s on board.

“He’s enjoying that responsibility and he will need support, but for sure it’s a huge thing for him as well.”

When asked whether there is still a leadership group at Arsenal, Arteta replied: “There is”.