Martin Ødegaard on Arsenal's title quest, the impact of Viktor Gyökeres, and Norway's Path to World Cup Glory: Men in Blazers 08/20/25

0:00You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network, Suboptimal Radio. This pod was recorded during Men in Blazers football holiday, a five-day romp across the nation, interviewing some of the Premier League's biggest personalities, Pep Guardiola, Virgil van Dijk, Enzo Mareska, Mikel Arteta, as well as all the pints, all the pies, and producing the podcast you're about to hear. It's brought to you by our good friends at Yeti, the official luggage and drinkware partner of the Men in Blazers media network. I love them. Massive thanks to those human beings in Austin for making this whole thing possible to the pod.

0:36There's been a few messages from him, what we can do within our tactics, within our gameplay, what we can do to improve. Like what? No, I'm not going to give away everything here. No one's watching this.

0:50My guest today is a dazzling midfielder. who like a Norwegian Einstein knows time and space, a relative, he bends him to his will, buckling opposing defensive with a creative ferocity. A leader of men, he's entering his fourth year as Arsenal club captain. He still looks like a baby. It's a joy once again to welcome ahead of a new season, fresh off his wedding, to Mr Martin Erdogan. Pleasure, pleasure to be here. Good to see you in person as well. Congratulations on the old nuptials. Yeah, thank you, thank you. was good. This time last season, we met on season eve. You talked about how the upcoming goal was to make sure the team was better every single day.

1:32And there were so many high points. The set-piece dominance, Declan Rice bangers, David Ryer outpacing James Ward-Kraus. There was a semi-final exit in the Champions League and that agonising second-place finish for the third straight season. When you look back on that campaign, what do you pinpoint the one thing that went wrong? I think football is very complex, you know, it's not like one thing. And it's hard to put your finger on like one area or one thing that wasn't good enough. I think it's a bigger picture here. But as you said, of course, we were second and semi-final Champions League.

2:04But a lot of good things, you know, I think most people just remember that we didn't win it. That hurts. But as you said, we have to take the positives as well and we have to use them. And the disappointment of not winning again. Yeah, I think that's just the motivation we need to take again into this season, you know, and use it in a good way again. And yeah, small margins, small details in football, you know, that you need to master. And then hopefully this can be our year. One of the things I admire about Mikel Arteta is just constantly a surging font of optimism. He's pointed out that the Arsenal total points in three different seasons could have won the league three different times.

2:40It's all about being in the right place in the right moment. What has Mikel's message been to you this year to fulfil that dream, win that trophy? I think to come back even more hungry and to get better and to find those areas where we can improve. I think there's been a few messages from him, what we can do within our tactics, within our gameplay, what we can do to improve. Like what? No, I'm not going to give away everything here. No one's watching this. But obviously we want to be better in every part of the game. But it's between the goals, you know, in the boxes where the games are decided.

3:11and yeah to just come back more hungry more motivated I think when you're that close and you don't win at least for me personally gives me a lot of extra motivation and we have to use that fire again and yeah take it step by step and hopefully we can do the big thing. Does that hunger grow or does it get more and more frustrating? No for me it grows I think I've always been motivated by not succeeding if you can call it not succeeding. I've done a lot of that. Obviously we want to win and that's the big goal so when you're that close for me it just gives me extra motivation extra fire and more hunger going into another season so yeah that's part of football and you have to use it in a good way and that's what we're going to do.

3:48For you last season there's a personal frustration an ankle sprain September the 9th kept you out for 57 days I think you missed 14 games for club or country and then it was hard to finish a full 90 in the wake of that how fit were you last year and how do you deal with that mental aspect of a tough patch like that? Well it's hard to be injured I'm not really used to it I want to play every single minute every single game you know I love to play and I always prefer to play for me it was tough but at the same time it's quite easy as well because you just have one thing on your mind is to get back as soon as possible so in that way it's okay but obviously it's to go to the games and look from the stands it's not my favorite thing it was frustrating but what can you do you just have to work hard.

4:31This off-season have Have you added anything new physically or mentally to your regimen as a result of that to prepare yourself differently? Yeah, I think every season you learn and grow. And physically I feel strong. I feel like I've had a good summer, you know, with some rest. But also I've worked a lot and my body feels good. I feel strong and ready to go. And also mentally I think you grow a lot, you know, from everything you go through. All the experiences, the injury, all that I think is just part of the journey. And you can learn something from every part of it. So that's what I try to do, use it in the best possible way.

5:03And yeah, hopefully that's going to make me a lot stronger. How is it as a footballer when you get married? You're like, just going to go mad for it or you're like wedding training. Got to get back. I think it's important in general. I think it's important to be able to switch off. So I think that's the key, you know, to come to work every day and and be really focused and work hard. But when you get home, you need to switch off consciously. Yeah, I think that's key to find that balance. And when I was younger, I maybe struggled a little bit more to do that, switch off and take my mind off football.

5:32But I think now when I have a family, a kid and wife and everything, it's a lot easier. So I think that's good. Do you dream about football? Like what you're thinking tactically? Are you like at night, when you go to sleep, does it fill your... Yeah, it happens. It happens. Does it really? Yeah. I have a lot of weird dreams. So sometimes it's about football. Yeah. A lot of times. Yeah, sometimes. Yeah. You've been Arsenal's captain for three years now. Is that a privilege or does it add pressure? And do you feel like wearing that armband has made you in some way a better player? Yeah, I think so.

6:07I think it's helped me a lot in my game. And I think I've learned, you know, to take more responsibility on the pitch. And as captain, I always ask the best from everyone else. It means I need to be on my best as well. So I think it just helps me in a natural way to raise my standards and to make sure that I'm always on it and always do the right thing, you know, lead by example. So I think it helps me in my game as well, for sure. Question from a fan at Downright Cheeky. Martin, Oslo brought in six players this summer to bolster the squad. As team captain, how do you maintain that brotherhood, that culture of togetherness when there's a new competition for team places for minutes in each position?

6:44How do you maintain that togetherness even as the faces change? Yeah, it's a good question, but I think that's what's really good about this team and this club we've created a culture or an environment where everyone just wants the best for each other I felt that you know when I came in here that it was so easy to adapt to the team teammates you know everyone helped me a lot at the beginning and that made such a big difference for me so who in particular I think in general everyone but obviously you have more type of like leaders in the team that maybe do a little bit more but to be fair I think in general everyone here is really good at helping new players new signings to settle in and so many nice people at the club, not just in the team, but around the team as well.

7:24So I think that just makes it a lot easier for people to settle in. The answer is win the dog. I love the role you play as captain. That letter that you wrote to incoming marquee striker Victor Jokeresh, where you asked him if he needs anything, he just said, keep doling out the assists. Victor's arrival means Arsenal now have that much vaunted number nine. He's a cocktail of roadrunner speed, Jason Momoa strength and Bain Sellys. Can you describe when you are now running into that final third, how his presence changes your mindset knowing that he's ahead of you? With all players, that's what I try to do, you know, to adapt to their qualities.

7:59Whoever plays in front of me might be different, you know, their strengths. And with him, as you say, he has a lot of power, a lot of speed. He's good at running in behind, you know, finding the space to attack. And for me as a player, I just try to adapt and use their strengths. So he's a big boy, you know, he takes a lot of space and he's going to take a lot of attention and the defender is going to be really aware of him. So I think that's a good thing, creates more space for us as well. So I'm sure he's going to be really good for us and he's going to help us a lot. So, yeah, excited for it.

8:25I wanted to ask you about another new player, Martin Zubermendi. He came in for$77 million from Real Sociedad. Watching him, he's just a smooth jazz passer. He's pairing with Declan Rice. It's like watching Salt and Caramel come together. Watching what he can do, break that line at speed. How does that change Arsenal's game? It almost makes the attack more uncertain this season. Yeah, he's been really good in pre-season. And I've played a little bit with him before in Spain, you know, so I knew his qualities. A top player, as you say, he can find any pass, you know, he can break the lines, he can drive with the ball.

8:58He's also so smart, you know, intelligent to read where the ball is going to land and he picks up a lot of second balls. And yeah, he really controls the game. It's going to give us a new dimension there. So yeah, excited for him. Has it changed what you do? No, not too much. It's always different qualities you have to adapt and you have to use the strength of the people around you. So I don't think it changes too much, but obviously there are small tweaks here and there and you have to adapt and you have to understand what they want from you and they have to understand what I want. So yeah, it's just a natural process.

9:28Another season, another hail-end world-beater emerging. New addition, 15-year-old Max Downman, already making Premier League defenders look ungainly as baby giraffes when he's in pre-season possession. Honest assessment, how good is Max Downman? He's a top player, top talent and I think everyone has seen it now in pre-season what he's done. I don't want to put too much pressure on him and create too much of expectations around him, but I think we just need to give him time to be himself, to grow and learn and everyone can see the quality. The quality is obvious, so I think the key thing for us is just to help him, support him and make sure he can take it in his own way and his own time.

10:07So I'm sure he's going to be a great player for us. Fascinating about the role you play You're a 15 year old You also have fellow 15 year old Marley Salmon coming through You yourself are 15 year old When the world started to see you break through Do you feel you have a special role Can play a special role in mentoring them both? Yeah I feel like I've been through a lot And yeah I started playing really young as well So I've been through a lot of it A lot of attention Yeah life can change very quickly You know when you get into the first team So I think I can use that experience And give them some advice here and there What's the most important thing that you'd tell them?

10:41The most important thing is maybe a simple and boring question, but it's to stay focused, work hard and to keep your focus where it has to be. When you come through at a young age, there's going to be a lot of expectations, a lot of hype and all these things, but you need to stay focused, keep enjoying and keep working hard. This season slams right into World Cup 2026. Norway last played in the tournament two years before you were born. They are star-packed. You, Erling Haaland, Jürgen Strand-Larsen, Oscar Bob, which is incredible, 5.6 million people, smaller than Wisconsin. What would it mean to you to lead your nation to World Cup play?

11:18It's one of my biggest dreams, you know, to play a tournament and, of course, especially a World Cup with Norway. And as you say, we haven't been there in ages. So I think it's about time for us. I feel like we're on a good way now. We've started the qualification really good. And yeah, we're ready. Hopefully this can be the year. Norway's greatest active sportsperson, Erling, Magnus Carlsen, Ede Hergerberg, you? The one. Who is it? I'm going to say Haaland at the moment now. It's up there with Magnus and Ede. Last question for you. For Arsenal fans, there's been a lot of dreams, a lot of yearning.

11:51I think there's a Norwegian word for it. Lee Delsa, passionate suffering. Three years chasing this Premier League title. Can you look into the camera? Tell Arsenal fans what they should expect this season and what in your heart the one thing that makes you feel this season can be different. We need to take our lessons, we need to get better, we're going to improve day by day and we're going to fight and give everything. We need the supporters, we need the love and the support throughout the season and then I'm sure it's going to be a special one. Martin, to you, your team and to Knights of Great Sleep.

12:22Courage. Thank you mate. Health and happiness.