Martin Ødegaard anticipates a heated clash when Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday but insists it won’t impact his friendship with Erling Haaland.
The growing rivalry between the teams stems from their last meeting in September, where John Stones’ 97th-minute goal secured a 2-2 draw for City. Tensions flared at full-time when Haaland confronted Mikel Arteta, telling him to “stay humble.” In the aftermath, Stones and Bernardo Silva accused Arsenal of time-wasting and employing “dirty” tactics to defend their 2-1 lead with 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s red card.
Arsenal, currently second in the table, head into Sunday’s fixture knowing a loss would leave City just three points behind them. They may also be without goalkeeper David Raya, who missed Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Girona due to a muscle injury.
Ødegaard acknowledges the intensity of these encounters, calling it a natural part of the competition. “Games like this come with a big rivalry. Everyone wants to win, and that’s how it should be. A bit of heat on the pitch is normal,” he said. “Many of us know each other from national teams—England, Brazil, me with Erling—so there’s a difference between what happens on and off the pitch. When we’re playing, it’s a battle. Given the history and how we’ve competed for the title in the last two seasons, it makes this match even more special. But in the end, it’s about three points—that’s the main focus.”
On Friday, Arteta made it clear he harbors no resentment toward Haaland after their previous altercation. “I don’t take anything on the pitch personally. As a player, I learned to leave emotions there and move on.”
Despite the on-field tensions, Ødegaard’s bond with Norway teammate Haaland remains strong. The two keep in touch via WhatsApp, along with other national team players. “We have a group chat and talk every now and then, but not about football—just random things,” Ødegaard said. “I haven’t spoken to him about the game, but he’s a good friend.”
When asked about Haaland’s “stay humble” remark, Ødegaard downplayed its significance. “In games like these, emotions and adrenaline run high. Things are said in the heat of the moment, but once you leave the pitch, it’s over. It’s not something I dwell on.”
Earlier in the season, Ødegaard was sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during international duty, missing September and October. Arsenal struggled in his absence, and even after his return, his goal contributions have dipped. After scoring 15 times in 2022-23 and another eight last season, he has managed just one Premier League goal this campaign.
The Norwegian playmaker admits he needs to improve. “I haven’t been good enough in front of goal. I’ve had plenty of opportunities and created a lot for others, but I haven’t been clinical enough. That’s something I really want to improve as we approach the end of the season.”