Arsenal progressed further under Mikel Arteta last season, taking the Premier League title race to the final day of the season.
The Gunners also did well on their return to the Champions League, making it to the quarter-finals of the competition.
Although Arsenal didn’t quite manage to go all the way, the foundations Arteta and Edu have built are solid and there’s optimism ahead of next season.
The Gunners boast a solid, tight-knit squad full of incredibly talented players who also have the right character.
In addition, many of Arsenal’s young stars have committed their futures to the club, so they’re in it for the long haul.
One of the biggest signings for the Gunners in recent years is Martin Odegaard, whose decision to swap Real for Arsenal proved inspired to say the least.
In 2022, he became Arsenal’s youngest captain since Cesc Fabregas, and he has certainly gone from strength to strength since then.
Odegaard’s efforts have been recognised by ESPN, who have listed him as one of the three best midfielders in the world.
The Arsenal star is ranked higher than the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Pedri and Toni Kroos,
What have ESPN written about Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard?
‘A contender to be considered one of the Premier League’s most influential players, Odegaard epitomizes the class and composure Arsenal exhibit when playing at their best,’ they wrote.
‘Nobody plays more progressive passes than Odegaard for Arsenal, putting himself at the heart of their possession-based approach and enabling the Gunners to break down tight defenses, a problem that’s impacted them in the past.
‘The 25-year-old’s variety and vision in his passing is the envy of almost any other midfielder in English football, while he’s also able to operate expertly in tight spaces.
‘No Premier League player has completed more passes into the penalty area this season.
‘Odegaard exhibits maturity far beyond his years, rarely gets injured and has helped reconnect Arsenal with their fanbase in his role as captain.’
Martin Odegaard has what it takes to become an Arsenal legend
Odegaard has come a long way since joining Arsenal in 2021. He’s not only living up to the amazing potential he showed as a youngster, but exceeding it.
Things didn’t quite go to plan for him at Real Madrid, and for a while there were some real worries that he wasn’t going to achieve his potential.
This all changed after Odegaard joined Arsenal, initially on loan and then permanently for £30million.
The rest is history, and hopefully he can go on to make history with the Gunners in the coming years.