Deklan Rajs je pohvalio kapitena Arsenala Martina Odegara za njegove liderske sposobnosti dok klub ide ka kraju sezone. Reprezentativac Engleske aplaudirao je norveškom vezisti, nazvavši ga „jednim od najboljih“ koje je video. Arsenal je na vrhu tabele Premijer lige sa samo jednim bodom koji ga deli od drugoplasiranog Mančester sitija. Deklan Rajs je pohvalio liderske sposobnosti kapitena Arsenala Martina Odegaarda i opisao Norvežanina kao „jednog od najboljih koje sam ikada video“.
Engleski vezista Rajs zna ponešto o kapitenu, pošto je nosio traku u svom bivšem klubu Vest Hemu.
A u ekskluzivnom intervjuu za TNT Sports, nije gubio vreme dajući komplimente Odegaardu za način na koji je ove sezone vodio lidere Premijer lige Mikela Artete. „On je stvarno, stvarno dobar,“ rekao je Rajs. „Glavna stvar kao kapitena je da ima poštovanje svih i on to ima. Kad nešto kaže, svi slušaju.
„On ima to mirno prisustvo u vezi sa njim, što smatram da je zaista dobro i ključno za lidera. On nije od onih koji viče glavom, ali ako nešto treba da se kaže, on će to reći. Reći će to na miran način.
„Druga dobra stvar je što su tu i drugi igrači, iskusni igrači kao što su Žoržinjo, Tomas Partej, Big Gabi (Gabrijel Magalhaes), koji su igrali na velikim mečevima i znaju o čemu se radi i takođe pomažu. Osećam da imamo zaista dobru grupu koja je lider. Nakon što je prvobitno stigao na pozajmicu iz Real Madrida 2021. godine, Odegaard je postao ključni član Artetinog ponovnog Arsenala.
Otkako je preuzeo kapitensku funkciju 2022. godine, što je odluka koju su neki tada doveli u pitanje, on je vođen primerom i opravdavao veru svog menadžera.
Ipak, Rajs zna da se ne uklapa u tradicionalni stil nekih od slavnih kapitena kluba.
„Ako pogledate Tonija Adamsa, Patrika Vijeru, kao jake centralne/vezne igrače. Martin je samo 10. broj van ovog sveta, on je tako poseban“, rekao je Rajs.
„But he knows what it’s like to play for this club. He was here in the tough times and now he’s come through that and he’s arguably one of the best players in the Premier League this season and the last few years.
„He just makes something happen out of nothing. He’s probably the best trainer, he’s just so elegant. Just everything down to the way he lives his life, how he treats this game as a profession, he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.“
Rice is finishing his maiden season at Arsenal after establishing himself as one of England’s best midfielders at West Ham, where he had been since the age of 14.
Arteta came calling after a £100 million move, the 25-year-old is challenging for the trophies and accolades he always dreamed of in a „whirlwind season.“
“I said that I wanted to play in the biggest games and compete for the biggest trophies,“ Rice said with a grin widening across his face.
„Now that I’ve been involved in a title race, I can see now why it gets hyped up to and lived up to so much just because of the pressure that comes with it, the moments that get delivered.
„It’s been everything I’ve wanted it to be. I’ve really, really enjoyed it, tried to take one game at a time and just express ourselves as a team.
“We’re doing really well, just obviously three games to go that we need to focus on.”
Although West Ham finished 14th in Rice’s final season, the club finished 7th and 6th in the two years prior, serving as a mere appetiser of what he’s experiencing now.
Now, he’s tasting the true rivalry and combative nature of a title race.
„As you keep winning more games, more pressure comes, you start pushing up the table and then you’re at the top, there’s a lot more noise,“ he continued.
„You start to play with the big teams that are around you and obviously the pressure of those games is really big.
„Just playing against the big teams in these big moments. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.“
While Rice has helped transform the Gunners, adding solidity and an extra bite in their midfield, Rice reflected on how his experience with Arteta has evolved his game in a single season.
„Positionally is probably the biggest thing that I’ve taken on this year. When you have the ball so much, just in terms of picking up different positions on the pitch and where to go in relation to your team-mates.
„The other big thing that stands out is it’s my highest goal-scoring season, and assists. I’ve been really happy with that, every time I get an assist it feels really good. I want to try and get to 10 assists at least.“
With three games left in the Premier League, Rice and Arsenal sit top of the table, a single point ahead of Manchester City who have a game in hand.
The anticipation of ending his first season with a Premier League title is almost too enticing.
„It’s exciting to talk about. They (Arsenal) deserve it so much,“ he said.
„You look at the history of the club, the class of the club, it’s unbelievable. Arsenal belong back with the major trophies.“