Martin Odegaard makes Arsenal transfer admission after issuing UCL demand

Martin Odegaard insists he joined Arsenal for “nights like these” after their dramatic march into the Champions League quarter finals.

Gunners captain Odegaard, 25, now looks the bargain of the century because Arsenal signed him from Real Madrid on a permanent basis for just £30m in 2021. Odegaard had been the teenage wonderkid who dreamed of playing for Real Madrid but gave up on the Bernabeu to get regular football at Arsenal.

That decision has paid rich rewards for both Odegaard and Arsenal as the Norway playmaker now looks one of the best midfielders in Europe. Odegaard was outstanding as Arsenal overcame Porto on penalties in a dramatic night at the Emirates as the Gunners reached the Champions League quarter finals for the first time in 14 years.

Arsenal also sit proudly on top of the Premier League and Odegaard insists he always had faith that Mikel Arteta's vision would come good even if there were tricky times at the start. When asked whether it was night likes these that convinced Odegaard to join, he said: “Yeah, definitely.

‌"When I came here I believed in the project, in the club, what they were doing, everything around the club, I believed in it - and now we are here doing well.

"We just have to keep pushing each other and make sure we get a little bit better every day. We will see where it takes us.

“But I think we have to use this, we have to grow off this. It is a massive night for everyone. We are still a young squad, but this was another big experience for everyone. We have to keep building on that and use it in a good way going into the end of the season. It should be a massive boost for everyone.”