‘Big struggle’ – Martin Odegaard opens up over horror injury nightmare after inspiring Arsenal to Man City thrashing

MARTIN ODEGAARD believes he is back to his best after a “big struggle” with injuries last season. The Arsenal captain led his side to the Premier League title, but knee and shoulder problems restricted him to just 23 starts. Martin Odegaard was troubled by knee and shoulder injuries last season Credit: Getty Odegaard was only able to start 23 games in all competitions for the Gunners last season Credit: Getty The Norwegian, 27, recovered to shine at the World Cup this summer and he carried on that fine form on Sunday. The midfielder scored and was named Man of the Match as Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 to win the Community Shield. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! And Odegaard said: “Sometimes you are just in the flow. You need to find that on the pitch. “All of us were flowing pretty good out there. I will just try to keep that up and keep going. “Last year was really a big struggle with a lot of difficult moments. To miss so many games because of injury was really frustrating. “It is the worst thing for a footballer to not be able to be on the pitch and I had quite a lot of weird injuries, and bad luck. “What I have just worked on is to use that as motivation for this year and to come back stronger. And to use all of those experiences in a positive way. “It was good for me to end the season with a title, here, and then a good World Cup. Then I had my break and I feel good, ready to go again.” Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Odegaard bossed the midfield in Cardiff as the Gunners lay down a marker ahead of their Prem opener against Coventry on Friday night. Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his captain and believes Arsenal fans will see a “very different” player this season if Odegaard can stay fit. The Gunners boss said: “I sensed from the first day that he joined that he has something else in the belly, that he wants to prove and show because the team needs it as well. “He missed five or six months [last season] for different things and it was extremely difficult for him to get any momentum.” Odegaard bagged Arsenal’s third goal against City – after Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz had found the net – and did so in style. The midfielder sat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma down on his backside with a deft dummy before slotting the ball home. Odegaard added: “It was a good way to start the season and I am really happy to help the team. “I want to help the team score more goals, get more assists, and all that. “The performance was great, the result was great – and it is the first trophy of the season. “Overall, it was a great performance and I am happy for the team to show their level against a strong opponent.” Odegaard was named Man of the Match for his performance against Man City Credit: Alamy Comment now