Odegaard: "I couldn’t be prouder to be captain"

Every home game, Martin Odegaard gives you his thoughts on the goings-on around the club in his captain’s notes for the matchday programme. 

Ahead of today's game against Wolves, the skipper discusses being top of both our Champions League group and the Premier League, the threat of Wolves and the packed fixture list at this time of year.

I must say, I think our Champions League campaign so far has been really impressive – especially at home, and we want to keep it going. We’re top of the Premier League too and I couldn’t be prouder to be captain of this group of players. 

I’ve said so many times how amazing it is to play for this club, and to be the captain as well, and playing in games like that on Wednesday, in front of our amazing supporters, is another great reminder of that. I love this team, I love the club and I love what we’re doing. It’s amazing to be a part of that and I’m excited for what’s to come.

We’re back at the Emirates today, and as good as we’ve been here in the Champions League – three wins and no goals conceded – I think there is always room for improvement, so our full focus is on giving a strong performance against Wolves.

Wolves will give us a really big test. They are a team that loves playing against the top sides and causes problems for everyone. Look at what they have done already this season, beating Manchester City and Tottenham, and being really unlucky in other games too. But I feel like Wolves have been like this for a while now. Certainly whenever I have played against them, it's been a big challenge. They have lots of individual quality and are really well organised too. 

This time of year is so important in the Premier League. You cannot afford to switch off for a single day in December – it’s so intense. I love it, to be honest. It gets tighter and tighter and the main thing is to win the games and get the points, however you can do it. You have to put yourself in that position to be able to fight at the top at the end of the season, and this is the time of year you can do that.

In December especially, there is no time at all to think about anything other than football! Players will get tired at all teams, so it’s about being mentally strong. Who copes with it best will be rewarded. So we need to make sure we recover well, prepare well, rest when we can, keep our focus and push every day. Then when it comes to matchday, make it all count.

Read the rest of Martin's notes, as well as a host of other fantastic content, by buying a copy of the Arsenal v Lens programme either around the stadium or online

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