Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his team needs to adopt the mentality of captain Martin Odegaard after praising the Norwegian for another top-level performance.
Odegaard scored the winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, September 9, extending the Gunners’ unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season.
The midfielder struck from range in the 75th minute to secure all three points for Arsenal in warm conditions in southern Italy. Odegaard was also on the scoresheet in Arsenal’s 2-1 Premier League win over Chelsea at the weekend. Arteta believes Odegaard’s mentality is one the rest of the squad should emulate.
Arsenal controlled much of the match against Napoli, enjoying 58% possession and registering eight shots on target.
“That’s what we need, the players with that mindset to decide the game, and to play with that personality, that an action might not happen, it’s the next one, the next one, and keep insisting, keep taking chances and risks.”
“He’s getting into those positions much more in recent games, and now you feel he has this emotional state that he knows that the ball can go in and he scored an incredible goal tonight” Arteta said.
