Mikel Arteta makes Arsenal transfer admission as he singles out one player

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has reflected on the importance of signing Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid as the Gunners prepare to face Los Blancos in the Champions League

Mikel Arteta has hailed the impact of Martin Odegaard at Arsenal as the club's captain prepares to face his former team in the Champions League quarter-final. The Denmark star joined the north London side from Real Madrid ahead of the 2021/22 season and has proven to be a key player ever since.

Odegaard initially joined the Gunners on loan in January 2021, after failing to break into the plans of Los Blancos. The midfielder saw a number of temporary moves to the likes of Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad after making the blockbuster transfer to the Bernabeu soon after turning 16.

The 26-year-old is a central figure for Arteta heading into the European meeting, and the Spaniard has highlighted the significance of his signing in returning Arsenal to being a contender. Tuesday evening will mark the first time Odegaard returns to the Spanish capital since his departure from the club.

Arsenal's boss reflected upon three areas where his recruitment team succeeded in bringing the playmaker to the Emirates. Speaking in his press conference, Arteta explained the benefits of Odegaard's signing go beyond the pitch.

Arteta said: "I think it's very important for the football club because we recruited a player who fits every quality to deliver performances, the demands that we want and then the person who is an exceptional representative of the values of this football club. Our history and it has been pivotal from where we were to where we are, the role that he's played and how much he has contributed to getting us to where we are at the moment."

Arteta will hope to find similar success in the transfer market this summer as the Gunners look to break away from finishing as Premier League runners-up. Arsenal have finished second in the division in consecutive seasons and are set to end the season behind Liverpool on this occasion.

After the arrival of Andrea Berta as the club's new sporting director, Arteta is expecting a big summer in the transfer market. "It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it," Arteta said.

“The way we planned the five first summers, they were going to be very big and they were going to have different objectives because the turnaround of players and the objective of those windows was going to be different.

"But now when you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad but as well we want to increase the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step."

Arteta added: "I think Andrea is a big addition to the club, a big addition to the team, a team that is already formed with a lot of great people. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now that is necessary.

"But it’s a big summer for many things because first of all we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team."