Martin Odegaard is certainly on the same page as Mikel Arteta when it comes to Arsenal hosting West Ham United in Saturday’s 3pm Premier League kick-off.
Arteta is not taking Nuno Espirito Santo’s team lightly, and rightly so.
West Ham United may have only four points to their name so far. But successive league wins at the Emirates – one in each of the last two seasons – means Arsenal head into matchday seven with the nagging fear of a most remarkable Hammers hat-trick nagging away at the back of their minds.
The Gunners have only lost four home matches in the Premier League since the start of 2023/24. Half of those have come against their London neighbours.
A point captain Martin Odegaard was also keen to make, warning his teammates against even a shred of complacency against a West Ham side with a point to prove under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Martin Odegaard wants Arsenal on top form against West Ham United
While today marks his one-week anniversary as the Hammers head coach, Nuno hailed the impact of Max Kilman and, with the help of his former Wolves stalwart, feels progress has already been made with regards to their defensive organisation and their set-piece defending.
Arsenal will pose a massive test of that, of course. No team has scored more goals from dead-balls this season, while Arteta confirmed that Gabriel Magalhaes may be available after a midweek injury scare.
“Today is all about the Premier League,” Odegaard tells the club’s official website. “Every game in this league is so difficult, and every point is crucial over the season. You have to go into every game thinking that way.
“Obviously, West Ham United have a new manager for this game, and you never know what that’s going to look like and what that’s going to bring. So, let’s be ready.
“We know West Ham are a good team and have got results here in recent years. That’s something we have in mind and we want to put things right today. We have to make sure we are on it today, to keep the momentum going and keep taking points.
“That’s key now. It’s going to be another good battle and hopefully we can get another win.”
Mikel Arteta demands a fast Gunners start vs Nuno Espirito Santo’s side
Arteta feels a fast start could be integral to Arsenal’s hopes of a first home win against West Ham since Boxing Day 2022.
“I know Nuno really well, how he sets up his teams,” the former Manchester City assistant explained during his press conference on Friday. “So, we expect a really tough match. A top manager. A top coach with a lot of experience. A really difficult game ahead.
“It is about generating momentum. There are periods in the season that are capital, and tomorrow’s game is a really important one for us. That’s why, from the beginning, we need to generate [momentum] in the stadium and go for it.
“There are always moments when you drop points, and [against] West Ham has certainly been one of those. At home, we know the amount of games we have to win to reach the target that we have. That is the game.”
Soungoutou Magassa could be key to stopping Odegaard
Fresh from a mixed first Premier League start against Everton on Monday, Soungoutou Magassa is likely to be key to West Ham’s hopes of stopping Odegaard in his tracks.
As the deepest of Nuno’s midfielders, the £14 million signing from Monaco will need to bring his ball-winning A-game against a Gunners side boasting the Norwegian playmaker as well as the defence-splitting talents of Ebere Eze.
Magassa is settling into West Ham life, too.
“I feel very good. It’s a family club that has welcomed me very well, with a few French speakers,” Magassa explains. “I’m taking English classes regularly to feel more confident speaking in English, and I feel as if it’s going very well.
“I want to be able to speak to everyone, to be able to express myself on the pitch and say what I want to the players at certain times. I’m trying to improve and integrate as best I can.
“I’ve been welcomed by a very good team with very good staff, and I’m very happy to be here at West Ham.
“Everyone has helped me on a daily basis, whether it’s Alphonse [Areola], Malick [Diouf], Jean-Clair [Todibo], or Lucas [Paqueta, formerly of Lyon], as he speaks a bit of French too.”
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