🚨Erling Haaland on the difference between playing with Rodri and Martin Ødegaard:
🗣️ Reporter:
“What’s the biggest difference between playing with Rodri and playing with Martin Ødegaard?”
🗣️ Erling Haaland:
“Rodri controls the game. Martin creates the game.
Rodri always knows where the next pass is before anyone else. Martin sees passes that nobody else even thinks about.
I asked Martin once how he always finds me without even looking. He just smiled.
Playing with him, you’d think he has eyes in the back of his head. The defenders probably think the same.
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.
I can't lie, something has been on my mind since watching the Paraguay vs France game yesterday.
How is it that Arsenal aren't even being linked with Désir Doué? Better still, how are no top clubs making serious noise about him?
Then I started thinking... what if this is the kind of signing Andrea Berta is quietly working on while everyone is focused on Bradley Barcola? Berta has a history of moving in silence, so I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Barcola is the distraction while another deal is happening behind the scenes.
Looking at the football side of it, Doué just screams Arsenal to me.
One of our biggest problems is breaking down low-block teams. Doué is built for those games. His ball manipulation in tight spaces is ridiculous. He's always looking for little gaps to attack, always trying to force defenders into mistakes. He doesn't just hug the touchline and recycle possession.
He also wins fouls consistently. Around 1.2 fouls won per game compared to Barcola's 0.3. That matters more than people think because against stubborn low-blocks, one foul in the box can completely change a game.
We literally saw it against Paraguay.
France couldn't find a way through, Doué came on, started attacking defenders and won the penalty that decided the game. That's exactly the type of player we've been crying out for in those frustrating games where teams camp inside their own box.
Then there's the versatility. He can play LW or RW, and we all know Arteta loves players who can comfortably operate in multiple positions.
Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I just find it really strange that there isn't much noise around him.
If Berta somehow pulls off a Désir Doué signing while everyone is busy debating Barcola... I might actually lose my head. That would be one unbelievable piece of business.