Mikel Arteta explains how two key Arsenal stars managed ‘to improve’ their relationship

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Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are two of Arsenal’s best players, and they both share an excellent relationship on and off the pitch.

Odegaard is Arsenal’s captain, and has been an exemplary figure in leading his side to challenge for the Premier League title in back-to-back seasons.

Saka is Arsenal’s talisman as the most productive attacker at the club, as well as one of the Hale End Academy’s best-ever success stories.

The two often share similar spaces on the pitch, with Odegaard playing in the right half-spaces as an attacking midfielder, and linking up with Saka as he attempts to cut inside from the right wing.

Mikel Arteta has now praised the pair, and explained how they can further improve their strong relationship, both on and off the pitch.

Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth, Arteta highlighted the pair’s strong relationship as a positive.

“That’s when you build the chemistry,” he stated when asked about the connection between the two.

“Off the field that is already very strong, and when you take that to the field, when you add minutes and training sessions and good level of communication between them, those are very good ingredients to improve, keep developing and keep understanding each other better.

“That certainly happens and it’s the same with Ben (White) because they have played on that side for a long time now so it’s quite solid at the moment.

“They’re very close, they spend a lot of time together off the field as well and that’s something really important. You can tell in the way they communicate and the way they look at each other that there is something special.”

Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka play on same wavelength for Arsenal

The two attacking stars arguably have the best connection on the pitch out of any two players for the club, and with Ben White often pushing up to join them, the trio are sometimes unstoppable.

Odegaard and Saka possess excellent technical skills and vision, and the two combine well to set each other up with passes to create chances.

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Saka is often double-marked by the opposition team, but this creates extra space on the right for Odegaard and White to attack, and they have both been excellent going forward.

Odegaard has 11 goals and nine assists to his name in all competitions, whilst White has a career-best four goals and five assists, with Saka also hitting his best total with an astonishing 19 goals and 14 assists this season.