Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has openly acknowledged that the players can indeed feel the palpable 'nerves' emanating from their supporters during high-stakes matches at the Emirates Stadium. This candid admission comes in the wake of pointed criticism from football pundit Roy Keane, who recently accused Arsenal fans of transmitting their anxious energy onto the pitch, particularly following the team's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.
The Atmosphere at the Emirates: A Double-Edged Sword
Speaking to the Men in Blazers podcast, Odegaard addressed the unique atmosphere created by over 60,000 fans in North London. 'Sometimes you can feel it as it's a lot of people. You really feel that atmosphere,' the Norwegian midfielder stated. He was quick to clarify, however, that this sensation is not solely negative. 'Whenever you come to the Emirates, the atmosphere is always amazing. You get that energy from the supporters.'
Odegaard elaborated on the natural ebb and flow of fan emotions during a match. 'Of course they're going to get nervous at some point if we are defending a lead or whatever, but that's part of football and most of the time we get that energy from the stadium and that's what we want.' He framed this nervous energy as an intrinsic component of the sport at the highest level, something the squad must and can manage.
Building Resilience Through Experience
The Arsenal skipper was emphatic about the team's growing capacity to handle pressure. 'Nerves are a part of football and I think you just have to be able to deal with it at this level. It's part of the game. That's alright. Most of the time the energy is unbelievable and they feed that to us.'
He pointed to the squad's sustained involvement in title races as a key factor in their development. 'For me personally and also for a lot of the players in the team, we've been in this title race now for a lot of years. I feel like that's given us more experience, and we can use that. Every single season we've grown as a group. I think every individual has grown more experienced, more mature.'
Odegaard expressed strong confidence in the current squad's position and mentality. 'With the squad we have this year, we feel like we're in a really good place. We're just going to keep fighting and keep pushing every single day. We are believing in what we're doing.' He highlighted the daily work on the training ground as the foundation for this self-assurance, suggesting it is this routine and collective growth that fuels their belief in achieving success.
Context: Keane's Critique and Arsenal's Response
Roy Keane's comments, made after the Manchester United loss, painted a picture of a tense environment. He suggested the fans were 'afraid to embrace the challenge' and that this nervousness translated to tentative, nervous play from the team, particularly in defence.
Since that defeat, Arsenal's performances have offered a robust response. The team secured a Champions League victory over Kairat at home, a crucial Premier League win away at Leeds, and triumphed over Chelsea at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. These results have helped maintain a significant six-point cushion over rivals Manchester City in the league with 14 games remaining, despite the club's pursuit of a first league title since 2004 and a first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
Odegaard's comments serve to acknowledge the reality of fan influence while simultaneously projecting a message of unity, experience, and hardened resilience. He accepts the nerves as part of the Emirates' fabric but insists the squad is now better equipped than ever to channel the stadium's overall 'unbelievable' energy into their push for silverware.
