September 23rd 2023.
Pep Guardiola has been full of praise for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, with Gary Neville having recently claimed he would "sign him in a heartbeat". The Norway international has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, having already scored three goals, including one in the 4-0 victory against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
In recognition of his strong performances, Odegaard has been rewarded with a new long-term contract, making him the highest earner at the club. This has unsurprisingly attracted the attention of other clubs, a fact that did not surprise Gary Neville, who recently compared the Gunners playmaker to Manchester City legends Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's game against Nottingham Forest, Guardiola responded to Neville's praise, saying: "He's an exceptional player. He's settled in really well and become a captain both on and off the pitch, showing consistency by playing a lot of games. He's perfect for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal idea. He's a really, really good player."
The 24-year-old's immediate focus now will be on Sunday's North London derby against Tottenham. He recently revealed that he's felt at home at Arsenal since the day he signed, and that securing a new long-term contract was a key element in his settling down. He said: "I moved when I was 16 and then changed teams here and there on loan, so for me it's been a key thing to find a place where I could really settle down. I've felt at home here since the first day; I just felt great. This is definitely my home, I'm so happy to be here and to sign a new deal."
The future certainly looks bright for Arsenal and Martin Odegaard. With his future now resolved, the Gunners skipper will be looking to build upon his impressive start to the season and help his team to success in the upcoming derby against Tottenham.
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