Odegaard admits injury-plagued season dulled joy of Arsenal's first title in 20 years

Martin Odegaard has admitted that a season blighted by knee and muscle injuries left him personally frustrated, even as Arsenal claimed their first Premier League title in more than 20 years under Mikel Arteta.

The Norwegian captain made just 17 league starts as the Gunners finished seven points clear of Manchester City, ending three successive near-misses at the summit. Despite celebrating the achievement with his teammates, Odegaard conceded the toll of repeated setbacks made it difficult to fully savour the moment.

“When you do everything you can every day to take care of your body, yet still get so many punches in the face, it’s obviously tough,” he told Norwegian outlet VG. “It obviously affects me at home, even though I try to put it aside. It was a tough year personally, with a lot of frustration.”

Odegaard also acknowledged the strain on his home life, adding with a wry note that his wife “is happier these days” now that his form and fitness have returned.

The 27-year-old has wasted little time making up for lost ground this season, already registering four goals in eight appearances — surpassing his entire goal tally from last campaign. He credited a structured recovery period and a careful pre-season build-up with Norway for helping him rediscover his sharpest form.

“I had some time off after the season, then went through the pre-World Cup build-up, easing my way back into match fitness,” he said. “Since then, I’ve been in good form and playing matches, so things are going better.”

Arteta has echoed that assessment, pointing to availability as the key factor. “First of all he needs to be available, and last year he missed so many games through injuries,” the Arsenal manager said.

Odegaard will look to carry that momentum into the international break, where Norway face Denmark before back-to-back fixtures against Portugal and a clash with Wales. He will then return to club duty with Arsenal, who head into the break on a low note after a 3-0 defeat to Brighton. The Gunners face Leeds at the Emirates Stadium next, before a Champions League tie against Lille.