On Friday, Arsenal confirmed that Martin Odegaard has won the club’s men’s Player of the Season award for the 2022/23 campaign, earning 55% of the votes from supporters.
Odegaard finished ahead of Bukayo Saka in second, and Gabriel Martinelli in third, after scoring 15 times and assisting seven as Mikel Arteta’s captain this season.
It took until April for Odegaard to win one of Arsenal’s Player of the Month awards, despite the fact he’d won the Premier League Player of the Month award earlier in the season.
But fans were clearly aware of the importance of the former Real Madrid man’s performances overall, and they overwhelming voted him as their Player of the Season in the end.
Speaking to the club media accounts about the award, Odegaard was clearly grateful for the fan support.
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for awarding me your Player of the Season,” Odegaard said. “It’s something I value very high and something I really appreciate coming from you guys.
“To be recognised by you is very special for me. So just wanted to say thank you and I also wanted to take this moment to thank you once again for the amazing support from you guys throughout the whole season.
“What you’ve done for us this year has been absolutely top class from start till the end.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you guys after the break. I’m sure we’re going to have a very special season together, so I can’t wait to see you back at the Emirates.”
Odegaard certainly appears settled at Arsenal, despite recent rumours of interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG reportedly made surprise soundings for Odegaard, but the move looked doomed from the start.
Odegaard is key to Mikel Arteta’s plans and happy in London. He has a contract with Arsenal until 2025, and the club have an option to extend to 2026.
More than that, Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Arsenal will soon hold negotiations with Odegaard over a new long-term contract.
He added that the Norwegian international loves the club, and Arsenal want him to be part of their long-term project.
Odegaard made 37 Premier League appearances in Arsenal’s 38 games in 2022/23, starting all 37. Only Ramsdale, Gabriel, and Saka played more of the league campaign.
