William Saliba, Bukayo Saka react to Martin Odegaard’s ‘thank you’ Arsenal post

Martin Odegaard impressed as Arsenal prepared for a match in Hong Kong, continuing his strong pre-season form by scoring the winning goal against Newcastle United in a friendly on July 27th.

The match also saw Joelinton penalized for a foul on Arsenal's highly-rated 15-year-old prospect, Max Dowman, though the club will manage his progression carefully. Following a win against AC Milan, Arsenal next face Tottenham Hotspur on July 31st.

Despite fan concerns about his form last season, Odegaard registered 11 assists for the fourth consecutive year. His Instagram post celebrating the Newcastle goal, featuring the Singaporean flag alongside Arsenal colours, received likes from teammates including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Leandro Trossard.

Expectations at Arsenal are high after a busy transfer window, fueled by finishing second in the Premier League and a strong Champions League run. However, fan frustration over the lack of trophies is growing, with pressure mounting on manager Mikel Arteta to deliver silverware this season.

Arteta was previously criticized for not signing a center-forward when needed, leading to midfielder Mikel Merino being used as a makeshift striker. The club has now addressed this by signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, who scored 97 goals in his last two seasons. While the squad desperately needs a lethal finisher for creators like Odegaard and Saka, Gyokeres is expected to require time to adapt to the Premier League.