Odegaard: Title win was a lifelong dream, now we attack again

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has reflected on a summer that included a Premier League title triumph and a strong World Cup campaign with Norway, saying the feeling of winning the league at Selhurst Park was "surreal" and something he had dreamed of his entire career.

"It was just unbelievable to lift the trophy at Selhurst Park, a feeling that's difficult to describe," Odegaard wrote in his captain's column in the Arsenal matchday programme ahead of the club's opening Premier League fixture against Coventry City. "I'd been basically dreaming about that moment my whole life, so when it happens it's all a bit crazy."

Odegaard went straight from the title celebrations to the World Cup with Norway, where he singled out a victory over Brazil as the standout moment. He also congratulated Arsenal teammates David, Mikel and Zubi on winning the tournament with their respective nations.

The Norwegian returned to club football with a goal in the Community Shield, describing the finish as pure instinct after a team move that saw Christos play a key role on the edge of the box. "I didn't really think much about it, I just did it all in the moment," he said.

Odegaard offered positive assessments of three new arrivals — Illan, Christos and Bruno — who all featured in the Community Shield. He was particularly pointed about Bruno, a former Newcastle player: "He's a player we always spoke about whenever we played Newcastle as someone who could dictate their game if we weren't at our best, so it's great to have him on our side now."

The captain also acknowledged the departures of Leo and Christian Norgaard among others, calling them "amazing guys" and wishing them well at their new clubs.

Looking ahead to the new campaign, Odegaard said the squad's mentality is not one of defending a title but of going after it again. "We don't feel like we're going to defend anything, we're going to attack it and we're going to go for it again," he said.