Pep Guardiola has hailed Arsenal’s ‘exceptional’ captain Martin Odegaard ahead of the huge clash at Manchester City on Wednesday night. The Gunners are top of the Premier League table by just five points and Odegaard has done a superb job this season skippering his side during the title race. The attacking midfielder was only named Arsenal captain last summer following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and has scored 12 goals and made eight assists in 31 league games so far.
Guardiola first encountered Odegaard as a young teenager when he visited Bayern Munich for a few days of training sessions. The City manager recalled how impressed he was with the player at the time, saying: ‘I needed five minutes to think, “this player plays good”. I think he made a tour all over Europe, training for however many clubs. In the end, Arsenal was attractive for him, an exceptional player.’
The City manager also praised Odegaard’s strength to be captain at such a young age, adding: ‘Captain at his age in Arsenal in a short time there is because you have to be a special personality, has the strength to be captain. He’s been really good, moves really good in the pockets around the box – not a player just to make assists – and winning games, scoring goals. Really good.’
Unfortunately for City, they will have to do without key defender Nathan Ake who has been ruled out by injury. Guardiola said: ‘Hopefully he can come back soon but for tomorrow he is out. I don’t know about Madrid. Yeah [it’s a blow] but we will find the right player to do it.’