Martin Odegaard doesn't hesitate when asked who is his toughest opponent
Today at 09:37 AM
Martin Odegaard didn’t need much time to think about the toughest opponent he has faced in his career.
The Arsenal captain has played against this person nine times before and has failed to score in each of those games – so it was an easy choice.
Odegaard has played top-flight football in Norway, Spain, England and the Netherlands as well as in the Champions League.
He has also already won 61 caps for his country since making his debut for Norway aged 15 in 2014.
However, it is a Premier League star who Odegaard feels is the toughest he has had to come up against.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he revealed: “I think Virgil (van Dijk) is a really tough one.”
Odegaard first came up against Virgil van Dijk twice in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup before his move to Arsenal.
He has since faced the Liverpool defender seven times for the Gunners.
It took the 25-year-old until his six clash with the Dutchman to get the upper hand but he has since been unbeaten in four meetings.
Despite that, though, Odegaard is yet to score when facing Van Dijk.
Meanwhile, he missed the most recent clash between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium last month.
Van Dijk was on the scoresheet for the Reds in a 2-2 draw in the Premier League.
The former Real Madrid midfielder was sidelined with an ankle sprain but has now returned to action for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Across his three appearances since coming back from injury, Odegaard has picked up assists against both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.
As well as choosing Van Dijk as his toughest opponent, Odegaard also named Zinedine Zidane as the most famous contact in his phone.
The French World Cup winner gave him his Champions League debut having managed Odegaard for Real Madrid’s reserves and first-team.
Meanwhile, he picked Gunners team-mate Kai Havertz as his best friend in football.
Odegaard and Havertz have made 49 appearances together since the German’s move to North London last summer.
