Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard enjoyed yet another outstanding campaign, and he is at the very top of his game.
Odegaard has won back-to-back Arsenal Player of the Season awards, joining Thierry Henry and Bukayo Saka as the only players to have done so, after a strong year as one of the Premier League’s best players.
However, unlike some of his other teammates, Odegaard will not be competing at the European Championships this summer, as Norway failed to qualify for the tournament despite his presence alongside Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
This does mean that Odegaard is enjoying a well-deserved break, and he has now shared an image with former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, which has raised old comparisons between the two players.
Martin Odegaard praises Cesc Fabregas during off-season break
On Instagram, Fabregas shared a picture of the two midfield maestros together, with the Spaniard captioning his post “what a player.”
Odegaard then reposted the photo with the caption “idol,” referring to Fabregas, who captained the side for just under three years.
Arsene Wenger compared Martin Odegaard to Cesc Fabregas
Odegaard was bound to draw comparisons with Fabregas given that both players were captains of Arsenal, as creative midfielders who also had an eye for goal.
Arsene Wenger made this comparison in 2023, and also confirmed that he wanted to sign Odegaard when he was a teenager before he joined Real Madrid.
“When he was 15, I talked to him. I actually spoke to Martin about it after the game now on Boxing Day. I was desperate to sign him. Fortunately, he is here now. He really is like a young Cesc Fabregas. I think he has developed into a complete player,” Wenger stated in January 2023.
It is clear that Odegaard has modelled parts of his game, as a midfielder who can dictate play whilst also contributing in the final third, on Fabregas, but he will hope that he can win more silverware as Arsenal captain than the Spaniard managed.
Although Fabregas was a top-class player for Arsenal, he forced a move away to Barcelona when Wenger needed him most, and whilst he did win trophies at the Blaugrana and at Chelsea, he perhaps underachieved at Arsenal as his reign as captain was fruitless when it came to glory.