How Arsenal captain Odegaard showed exceptional leadership v Bournemouth

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Arsenal club captain Martin Odegaard showed his incredible leadership skills in a key moment against Bournemouth.

Martin Odegaard produced a typically excellent performance in Arsenal’s 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. As well as being fantastic on the ball, he also showed what a brilliant leader he is by ensuring that Kai Havertz got the opportunity to take a penalty.

In the second half, Arsenal were awarded their second penalty of the game, when Odegaard himself was unceremoniously upended in the Cherries’ penalty area. The 24-year-old Norwegian had scored from the spot himself in the first half, and would have been a candidate to take this one too, as would Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Jesus.

Odegaard was seen speaking with Jesus on the pitch, in an effort to convince the Brazilian striker to let Havertz take the spot kick. Jesus gave Havertz the nod and the 24-year-old German subsequently stepped up and converted to register his first goal for the club.

Odegaard hands Havertz moment in spotlight

After the match, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the players decided on the pitch who would take the penalty, and backed their decision to give Havertz the opportunity. As quoted by the club’s official website, he said, “they take initiative and they take the leadership to make those calls…I imagine Bukayo has to take it so first of all he gives it to Martin and then he gave it to Kai.”

Havertz has come in for some criticism for his form since his £65 million arrival from Chelsea in the recent summer transfer window. He will be relieved to now be off the mark for the Gunners, and will be hoping to kick on from here.

Arteta believes that the goal will do the £280,000-a-week star the world of good. He said, “it will probably change everything, but first of all if he had any question marks about how we feel about him, how much we love him, how much we appreciate everything that he does, I think that’s out.”

Havertz needed that opportunity to boost his confidence and after taking the penalty well he was deservedly given an enthusiastic ovation by the Arsenal fans. However, Odegaard deserves plenty of credit for the leadership skills, empathy, and awareness he showed in this moment to help out a teammate.