Norway manager Ståle Solbakken has heaped praise on Arsenal star Martin Ødegaard’s development with both club and country.
The midfielder saw the Gunners climb to second spot after they sealed a 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
Solbakken watched Arsenal’s latest win in Cyprus, where the national team will gather soon for the upcoming international break, and that gave Dagbladet a chance to have a chat with him.
The 55-year-old has been the national team coach since December 2020 and has now partly taken credit for Ødegaard’s progress over the years.
“During the time I’ve been coaching [him], he has only gotten better and better and better. He’s become a better and better captain. He’s become a better and better player. He is more and more central – both for our team and Arsenal,” he said.
The Norway international has four goals and an assist from 12 matches this season after he managed 15 goals and eight assists from 45 games last season.
Dagbladet state the 24-year-old confirmed in the summer that he and Norwegian TV personality Helene Spilling are a couple.
When the outlet asked the Norway manager if the former Real Madrid star is in ‘good place’ with his life both on and off the pitch, Solbakken explained: “I don’t think there’s been much fuss. He’s very calm and balanced. I haven’t talked to him much about it. But I don’t have the impression that there has been any fuss.”
Ødegaard and Erling Haaland were opponents when Arsenal defeated Pep Guardiola’s side at the Emirates, the duo will be teammates for Norway’s European qualifiers against Cyprus and Spain later this month. Solbakken shared his delight at having the duo at his disposal.
