🚨 Arsène Wenger on Martin Ødegaard’s Performance for Norway vs Brazil:
🗣️ I haven’t seen him play like this for a while, especially for Arsenal. The passion and the drive are real. You can see his impact already, though he missed a big chance which could have given them the lead.
That’s why I always urge players to watch Messi play - because that would have been a goal.
Truly, the World Cup feels different.
I really think some of you need to give Ødegaard the respect he deserves for that performance against Brazil.
Not every midfield masterclass is about goals, assists or flashy highlights. Sometimes it's about taking control of a game before it even has the chance to become chaotic, and that's exactly what he did from the very first whistle.
He dropped deep, demanded the ball constantly and dictated the tempo. Brazil are at their most dangerous when they can play at a high intensity and overwhelm teams early, but Ødegaard simply refused to let that happen. He slowed the game down when it needed slowing, sped it up when the moment was right and made sure Norway always had control in midfield.
I know people still judge him like the old No.10 who lived around the edge of the box, but that's not his role anymore. His game has evolved. He's now the player who makes sure the entire team functions, controls possession and keeps everything ticking.
Norway's historic win wasn't just about the goals. It was built on control, and Ødegaard was the biggest reason they had it. Give the captain the respect he has earned.
Saliba and Lacroix were given the bodyguard assignment by Didier Deschamps 😂💪
🗣️ "I asked the two strongest guys on the bench to protect him [Mbappe] at the end of the match, because I don't want to lose players."