Arsenal’s star midfielder believes both teams give their best on the pitch.
For the past two Premier League seasons, the title race has been primarily between Arsenal and Manchester City. Both times, City emerged victorious. Their clashes have often been intense, sometimes even leading to heated moments. However, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard sees this as completely natural.
During the 2023-24 season, Arsenal pushed City to the final matchday in the title race, only to see the trophy slip away once again. In the previous season, Mikel Arteta’s side had also finished as runners-up.
The rivalry between Arsenal and City has reached new heights in recent years. Their last encounter saw tempers flare on the field, with Ødegaard’s compatriot Erling Haaland throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães.
Arteta reacted angrily to the incident, exchanging words with Haaland and telling City’s star striker to “stay humble.”
This season, the first league meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw. On Sunday, Arsenal will face City again, this time at the Etihad. Ahead of the match, Ødegaard addressed the rising tensions between the teams in a press conference.
“I think in these kinds of matches, emotions run high, and the intensity is always there. Things happen on the pitch, but once we leave, it’s over.”
“I don’t think too much about it. In big games like this, high competition is normal. Everyone wants to be the best, so these matches should be intense. Sometimes, a bit of heat is expected.”
According to Ødegaard, any on-field clashes stay on the pitch, as the relationships between players off the field are different.
“A lot of players know each other from the national teams—whether it’s England, Brazil, or in my case, Erling. So what happens on the pitch is separate from what happens outside. When we’re out there, it’s just a good fight.”
