Odegaard vows to stay at Arsenal for 'many years' after Champions League final defeat

Martin Odegaard has committed his future to Arsenal after the Gunners were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest, insisting he is ‘really happy’ at the club and wants to stay for ‘many years’.

The Norway midfielder, who has two years remaining on his contract, has faced speculation over his future following a season disrupted by injury and inconsistent form. But speaking in the immediate aftermath of the final, Odegaard was unequivocal: ‘There is nothing to say at the moment, I am under contract here and really happy here and hopefully I can stay many years.’

Odegaard was substituted in the second half and admitted it was painful to watch the closing stages from the sideline. Arsenal had taken the lead and defended resolutely for long periods, with PSG struggling to create clear chances before levelling from the penalty spot. ‘Small margins decide a game like this,’ he said. ‘That is the reality of football and we have to deal with it.’

The Arsenal captain acknowledged the cruelty of the result but was keen to frame it within the broader arc of the club’s progress. ‘Last year we got to the semis, this year to the final and it is just a shame we couldn’t win it,’ he said. ‘Hopefully next year we can go one step further and go on and do it.’

Arsenal’s run to the final came alongside Premier League title success, a combination that underlines how far the club has travelled under their current setup. Odegaard was candid about the pain of falling short at the final hurdle: ‘To end up with nothing is brutal. Again, that’s part of football and still we have done some incredible things this season.’

The defeat will sting, but Odegaard’s public commitment to the project — and his framing of this season as a foundation rather than a ceiling — will offer Arsenal supporters some consolation as attention turns to next season.