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Kai Havertz couldn't believe how Martin Odegaard behaved in Arsenal dressing room

Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz of Arsenal during a training session at Subaru Park on July 30, 2024 in Chester, Pennsylvania.
-Credit: (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)


Kai Havertz has revealed that Martin Odegaard is a big voice in the Arsenal dressing room - and it wasn't something he expected.

Odegaard was awarded the captain's armband in July 2022 and has been a stalwart in the Gunner's midfield ever since. Despite being out with an ankle ligament injury at the moment, Arsenal striker Havertz has claimed that he is still in and around the team behaving as a proper leader.

While appearing on the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel, the German was asked about Odegaard's influence and what he is like as a captain.

Havertz was quick to praise Odegaard's leadership but admitted he was taken aback by how vocal the Norwegian star is in the dressing room.

"I don't know how long he is injured now, maybe two weeks, but every day, he's here every day, he's in the meetings and speaks to us," He said. "Yeah I think, I think he is the perfect captain for a team like us where we have like so many young players and still the players who can progress, and he is just there for everyone and not only off the pitch.

"To be honest when I came, before I came to Arsenal, I didn't think he would speak so much like in the dressing room and stuff like that. But he speaks a lot and in the dressing room before the game, stuff like that, and he is also always there on the pitch. You know, when the things are not going your way, you need someone to step up."

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When speaking about stepping up for the Gunners, Havertz added: "I think everyone has to step up when one of your most important players is missing and I think we do it quite well at the moment, we have some players um they now speak a lot in the dressing room, that helps.

"So, yeah we hope obviously Martin comes back very quickly but um yeah we have to do our job when he's not there."

Arsenal will be aiming for the leadership to step up and get three points against Leicester today at the Emirates Stadium as Mikel Arteta's men look to bounce back from the disappointment of their last-gasp draw against Manchester City.