Martin Odegaard believes the Community Shield win has set the tone for Arsenal’s season, and he’s making it clear the squad isn’t aiming for anything less than silverware across the board.
After lifting the trophy at Wembley, the Arsenal captain spoke about the hunger inside the dressing room and how the victory felt like more than just a traditional curtain-raiser. For Odegaard, beating a top rival in a final, even an early-season one, is proof that Mikel Arteta’s side has the mentality to compete when it matters.
“Want to win everything” was the message he kept coming back to. It wasn’t said with arrogance, but with the conviction of a team that has come close in recent years and now feels ready to go the final step. The Shield win gives Arsenal an early boost and some momentum, but Odegaard was quick to frame it as a foundation rather than the end goal. The focus, he said, is on carrying that winning feeling into the Premier League, the Champions League, and the domestic cups.
That ambition reflects how much Arsenal have grown. They’ve gone from rebuilding to challenging, and now the expectation is to finish the job. Odegaard pointed to the depth in the squad, the experience gained from last season’s title race, and the belief that this group can handle pressure on multiple fronts.
It’s still August, and there is a long season ahead. But with Odegaard leading from the front and talking in those terms, Arsenal are putting everyone on notice. The Community Shield might be just one trophy, but for this team it’s a statement of intent: they’re here to win everything they can.
