Odegaard fighting to justify Arsenal role in World Cup battle with Rice

View 3 Images

Martin Odegaard isn’t just trying to fire Norway past England and into the World Cup semi-finals. He is also fighting to prove he remains worthy of the Arsenal captaincy. The 27-year-old missed 30 matches across all competitions last season, accumulating seven separate spells out of the side with various injuries, knocks and niggles.

In the final three months of the season, Odegaard struggled to shake a persistent knee problem sustained in a midweek draw at Brentford, while team-mates such as Declan Rice and William Saliba put their bodies on the line, trudging on through the pain barrier.

Rice missed just one match of a gruelling 63-game, Premier League title-winning campaign last term - even playing with injections to nullify agonising neural pain in both his lower back and hamstring. His condition has required diligent management at this World Cup, as he has been substituted several times due to excruciating shooting sensations up his leg.

Unfortunately, Rice's selfless sacrifice will have damning implications for Arsenal because it's clear the £105million maestro needs sufficient rest during the off-season. In just 10 days' time (July 20), Mikel Arteta's champions will report back for pre-season training, though some are due to partake in an optional camp in Marbella next week.

Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our

Make Football Great Again newsletter

Somewhat ridiculously, the squad's official return at London Colney takes place less than 24 hours after the World Cup final in New Jersey. That only emphasises how much rest Rice, in particular, requires.

He is almost too robust and too important for his own good and, unfortunately, in the latter stages of last season, it was difficult to shake the feeling that Odegaard had one eye on Norway's first major tournament since Euro 2000. When the team needed him most, there is a firm argument he put himself before the team.

Odegaard was re-elected as Arsenal captain last August following a landslide victory. But if we are being truthful, no player is going to vote against a well-respected, long-standing skipper.

While he rarely wears the armband, Rice always leads by example, something he will seek to do this weekend in Miami when he locks horns with club team-mate Odegaard. The latter said of his colleague ahead of their World Cup quarter-final collision at Hard Rock Stadium: "He can do so many things on the pitch.

"He can defend, he can attack, he can be physical, he can be good on the ball. He's a very complete player, so it's going to be a good test for all of us."

Rightly or wrongly, there is also an element of doubt over Odegaard's club future. He has two years remaining on his Arsenal contract and so far, discussions - let alone an agreement - over fresh terms do not appear imminent.

Nobody will dispute that Odegaard is a marvellous technician, masterful creator and manipulator of the ball when he is on song. However, his performances in big matches - not least the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain - leave a lot to be desired, and on current form, he looks a totally different player for his national team Norway.

Odegaard is the beating heartbeat of Stale Solbakken's Vikings and has assisted in three of his four World Cup outings this tournament. Against England and against Rice, he will feel an extra sense of responsibility to deliver.

Content cannot be displayed without consent