Martin Odegaard believes Arsenal have become a more well-rounded team this season and is hopeful his side can kick on and win the Premier League this season.
After a strong start to the season, the Gunners have fallen behind league leaders Liverpool following disappointing defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Revitalised by the return of captain Odegaard from an ankle injury, though, Mikel Arteta’s side now look back their best after successive wins over Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon.
At points during their poor run, Arsenal’s style of play came in for questioning, with Jamie Carragher suggesting that Arteta was ‘slowly morphing into Jose Mourinho’.
But Odegaard appeared to dismiss such a notion and said his side’s evolution over the past months has actually made them more versatile and capable of winning games in a manner of different ways.
‘Maybe the difference now from last season or a couple of years ago is that now we have so many different ways to play and win and we can manage a lot of different types of games,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘I think we feel confident going into any type of game and that’s what you want. We have a good squad and players coming back from injury now so you see it every time someone comes on the pitch they make a difference so that’s a great strength.
‘Hopefully, this can be our season.’
Arsenal will look to make it three wins on the spin against West Ham away from home on Saturday and close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the table.
And while Odegaard’s return has come at he perfect time for the Gunners, the Norwegian international was keen to shine a light on other members of his squad, including the hugely talented teenager Ethan Nwaneri.
‘I try to help him, I think that’s the main thing. He deserves all the praise, all the attention and everything he gets now,’ Odegaard said of his fellow attacking midfielder.
‘He’s unbelievable. He scored the other day and it’s not just that, it’s just the way he plays, the way he trains with so much confidence.
‘You see it every time he comes on the pitch, the fans get excited and he’s so up for it, he’s so ready, he always takes the initiative. He’s not scared. I love to play with him, train with him.’
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