Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard left teammate Jorginho audibly unhappy during the Gunners’ first training session in the USA for the north Londoners’ pre-season tour.
The Emirates Stadium outfit got to work in Washington DC on Monday after jetting over the pond last weekend. Mikel Arteta took his players Stateside last Sunday with the club’s latest signings – Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice – in Arsenal’s 29-man travelling side.
Friendlies with the MLS All-Stars plus Manchester United and FC Barcelona await Arsenal in America for their 2023 pre-season tour. DC United manager Wayne Rooney will oversee the MLS All-Stars on July 20, with Christian Benteke and MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar in their squad.
Why Pele Is Overrated.
Odegaard upsets Jorginho during Arsenal’s first training session in the USA
Arteta took a strong Arsenal squad over to the USA for the club’s pre-season tour. Alongside their new recruits, Auston Trusty and academy prospect Amario Cozier-Duberry made their flight out of Stanstead. But it was two senior stars who would steal the spotlight in training.
READ MORE: Everything we know about Arsenal’s 2023 pre-season tour
MORE ARSENAL STORIES
Odegaard, with Arteta’s assistance, clearly frustrated Jorginho during Arsenal’s first training session in the USA on Monday. The Italian can be heard in a video from the session shared by HaytersTV shouting at his skipper after Odegaard used the boss’ help for a mini-game.
Arteta sought to add some light-heartened hijinks into Arsenal’s normal training drills as the club got to work in Washington. The Spaniard instructed his players to get into teams of two with one jumping onto the other’s back. But, likely faced with a forfeit, Odegaard panicked.
Odegaard seemed set to be the last player to form a team of two so leapt onto Arteta’s back to the tactician’s delight. But Jorginho would not have any of it and bemoaned his captain’s antics. The Italian can be heard screaming ‘No, no, no!’ in the video taken from the session.
Jorginho is set for another important role in north London this season
Odegaard enjoyed a sensational season in his first campaign as Arsenal’s captain in 22/23. The 24-year-old relished the responsibility of taking over the armband as he led the Gunners to a shock Premier League title challenge. He was a leading light in their run to second place.
READ MORE: All Arsenal confirmed signings and transfers out in 2023/24
The Norway skipper ended the term with 15 goals and eight assists from his 37 appearances in the top-flight. He only sat out their 3-0 win at Brentford in September after taking a small knock to his calf in training. Odegaard otherwise started in each of their other 37 matches.
Jorginho, too, enjoyed an important role following his transfer to Arsenal this January. Arteta fielded the 31-year-old in 14 Premier League games after paying Chelsea £10m, up to £12m. The Italian also started in nine of his outings after replacing Thomas Partey in their line-up.
Arteta will likely rely on Jorginho’s experience to play an important role at Arsenal during the 2023/24 season, too. While few would have relished the midfielder’s arrival from the Blues, Jorginho added valuable expertise in a position the Gunners were previously lacking heavily.