Martin Odegaard hopes that there is 'heat' in the field when Arsenal will meet Manchester City on Sunday, but does not believe he affects his friendship with Erling Haaland.
The growing rivalry between the sides follows the September game, when the 97 minutes of John Stones earned the city a 2-2 draw. The temperature got rid of the final beep, when Haaland faced Mikel Arteta and told him to “stay humble.” Then, Stones and Bernardo Silva accused the arsenal of wear tactics in time and 'dirty' in their despair for clinging to a 2-1 advantage with 10 men, following the red card of Leandro Trossard.
The Gunners in second place go to Sunday's game knowing that defeat would leave City only three points behind them. And they can be without goalkeeper David Raya, who lost the 2-1 victory over Girona on Wednesday and is fighting with a muscular problem.
“It's normal when you play these games that there is a great rivalry,” Odegaard said. 'You are competing and you want to be the best. This is how it should be and should be a bit of heat. Many of the players are known among national teams: England, Brazil, I with Erling, so in the countryside and off the field, it is a bit different.
'When we are in the field, it is a good battle. After the last two seasons, when we have been fighting each other for the title,
I think that is something natural. With the story, it may be more special, this game, but they are only three points and that is the goal. ''
Erling Haaland and Martin Odeegaard enjoy a close friendship and flourish playing each other for Norway
The Arsenal pattern does not expect its relationship with Man City striker to be affected by the heavyweight contest
Haaland told Mikel Arteta to 'look humble' after Man City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September
On Friday, Arteta insisted that he does not hold a grudge against Haaland after his confrontation.
“I don't take anything that happens personally in the field,” he said. “Since he was a player, he stays there and is full of emotions and simply leave him aside and move on.”
The tension has not affected the relationship of the Arsenal Odeegaard captain with the teammate of Norway Haaland, whom he considers a close friend. The couple is in contact with WhatsApp and talks about football.
“We are good friends,” said Odegaard. 'He (Haaland) and some of the other children of the national team, we have a small group chat, so we keep in touch and talk from time to time. Not about football, almost at random things.
“We have not talked about the game, but he is a good friend, so I speak to him.”
When asked about the mockery 'Stay Humble' of the striker, Odegaard added:
'In football games like this, emotions are as high and adrenaline is there and everything.
'So that is something that can happen in the field and then when you leave the field and end with it. It is not something I think much.
The Pep Guardiola side enters the accessory of a victories in Chelsea and Club Brugge
The arsenal no 1 goalkeeper lost the club's clash with Girona in the middle of the week through an injury
At the beginning of this season, the 26 -year -old suffered an ankle injury in the international service and was set aside for September and October.
Arsenal lost the creativity of Odegaard a lot, but even when he has been in the field in this campaign, the objectives have dried.
After reaching 15 in 2022-23 and another eight last season, he has only scored once in the Premier League this time. He knows that more is required.
“It's something that I haven't been good enough,” he said.
'I feel that I have been in sufficient situations and created a lot for others, but I have not been clinical enough with my finish.
“That is something that I really want to take a step forward towards the end of the season.”