At a Glance:
- Piero Hincapie lauds Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard.
- Mentions how Odegaard could be key against Atletico Madrid.
- Odegaard’s record vs Atletico Madrid.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping Martin Odegaard is at his brilliant best in Arsenal’s upcoming contest against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
It is likely that Odegaard will start against Atletico Madrid and as the Gunners’ captain, the fans will be hoping for him to produce a performance reminiscent of his heroics against Porto in 2023.
The Norwegian has not had the best of seasons but the best players usually step up when it matters most regardless of the circumstances.
Considering Odegaard wasn’t great against Newcastle United either, perhaps fans would be worried about whether he turns up in the Spanish capital. However, Piero Hincapie has sung his praises.
Piero Hincapie says Martin Odegaard is ‘extraordinary’ ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal
Speaking to Diario AS, Hincapie was quizzed about how Odegaard’s presence could help Arsenal against Atletico Madrid, having played alongside him 17 times.
| Hincapie and Odegaard’s record at Arsenal | Stats |
| Matches | 17 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Losses | 3 |
“He’s truly a player with extraordinary qualities. Obviously, he gives us a lot in attack. But we have a very large squad, so any player who plays in his position can do it very well.
The Ecuadorian emphasised how key the Gunners skipper is to their side, even though he stressed that the team is not reliant on one player, saying: “With different qualities, but still helping us. I don’t think it will affect us at all, but we do miss a player with those qualities on the field.”
The good news for Arsenal is Odegaard looked bright against Manchester City and he may know himself that there would be no better time to silence his critics than against Atletico Madrid.
Martin Odegaard record vs Atletico Madrid
The 27-year-old has played against Atletico Madrid twice in his career.
| Odegaard’s record vs Atletico Madrid | Stats |
| Matches | 2 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
Odegaard has won and lost one game apiece while also scoring once.
Hincapie and his Arsenal teammates will be hoping that Odegaard has the game of his life against Atletico Madrid.
