Odegaard Looks Ahead to Home Clash with Chelsea: It Is a Major Test, but We Are Full of Expectation

In a Premier League third-round highlight match, Arsenal will host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. Ahead of the game, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard wrote in the matchday programme to preview the major clash.

Full text of Odegaard's matchday programme article

We beat Villa on Monday, and that was a really great victory because we know how difficult it is to go to Villa Park and win. Villa are a very strong team, and it was a difficult match. I thought they played well, and we faced exactly what we expected — their manager is always well-organised and has clear objectives. It is always tough to play against them, but through the efforts of the whole team we eventually scored a goal and secured the win.

We controlled the whole game and hardly allowed them to create any good chances. Everyone was excellent defensively. So far, we have done that in all three of our matches, and it is undoubtedly one of our biggest strengths. We work well together as a team, and everyone is working toward the same goal to make sure we win. Fairly speaking, we have shown this level of performance for a long time, and Monday's match proved it once again. Everyone is giving their all, and only through that can we achieve results.

Seeing Bukayo (Saka) score again is exactly what we expect from him, and it looks like he is in very good form this season. Obviously, he had injury problems last season and struggled a little, but now he has returned strongly and is determined to perform better this campaign. We have seen that in matches, and he continues to show it every day in training. When the hard work away from the spotlight is rewarded in games, it feels great, and hopefully the goals will keep coming.

All teams have played at least two matches at this point, so we can see more clearly the overall situation of teams at the start of the season. Even at this stage, we can get an initial sense of how each side is doing. But we have only just entered September, and our main focus is on ourselves. We want a good start, and our form has already been very strong. If we perform at the level we should, the performances of other teams are not too important, although we will of course keep monitoring and analysing them.

We have been preparing for Chelsea throughout this week, so naturally we have paid more attention to their performances. I think they have been very good in attack and have produced many impressive combinations. They have some very talented players and also brought in many new signings this summer. They have the ability to cause problems, so this will be a major test for us, and it will also be a great game — we are really looking forward to it.

This is a major match at the start of the season. Chelsea have started well, and we have started well too. It is a derby and naturally a key fixture. We want to win, keep moving forward and continue improving, and this match is another opportunity for us to show our quality and maintain our position.

From the performances of Premier League teams in the opening weeks, you can see that every side is strong, everyone is improving, and everyone wants to build on last season. But as I said, our focus is always on ourselves and what we want to achieve. We have signed some excellent players, and on Monday Ekwah completed his debut. He adapted to the team quickly like the other players, which is pleasing. Having a player of such quality is very important for our squad.

In addition, we have brought in other new members who are all making a big impact. What I appreciate most is that the culture of this team and the whole group is so strong and stable. This culture runs throughout the club, and whoever joins will understand and embrace it, which is what makes us stronger.

The manager has been here for a long time, and we all know what we are doing. I have spoken with some of the new players, and they have all told me that they quickly feel at home in this team and this club. They feel as if they have already been here for some time, and I think the key is having a strong club culture.

Whenever new players arrive, because of the way we work and how easily everyone adapts, they can integrate quickly. We have a strong squad and a united group, and everyone is very excited for the season ahead.

As part of football, we have also said goodbye to some players during this transfer window, including Jesus and Martinelli, who recently left. As I said previously in my column about Trossard and Norgaard, it is always difficult when close teammates leave.

I played alongside Jesus and Martinelli for a long time, and we shared many great moments together. Over the years, we experienced a lot together, and seeing them leave is always difficult, but that is also part of football.

I once again send them my best wishes, because they are both excellent teammates and outstanding players. I will always remember the wonderful memories we shared together.