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Martin Ødegaard has spoken ahead of Arsenal’s crucial clash with Manchester City, praising Ethan Nwaneri’s incredible rise and reflecting on the team’s Champions League success.

Martin Ødegaard has highlighted Ethan Nwaneri’s rapid progress and the significance of Arsenal’s showdown with Manchester City in his latest captain’s notes.

Reflecting on the Champions League, Ødegaard praised the team’s consistency, finishing third in the League Phase with six wins in eight matches to secure direct qualification to the round of 16.

“We were really pleased with how we finished off in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with another very good win. I think during the league phase overall we were very solid throughout the whole programme,” he wrote.

“We went into it wanting to finish in the top eight, but of course you don’t really know how many points you will need because it was completely new for everyone. So our approach was just to go into every game looking to win. We managed to finish third, winning six out of our eight matches and qualify directly into the round of 16, so that’s brilliant for us.”

He also singled out Nwaneri, calling him a “great player” rather than just a promising talent. The 17-year-old impressed again midweek, scoring a brilliant goal and displaying his strength, technique, and finishing ability. “It was a really good night for Ethan, he had another great performance,” Odegaard continued.

“I’ve said before that we don’t look at him as an emerging talent, we just see him as a great player. That says it all really for someone who’s 17. He’s just a natural part of our squad and the team, and you can see the talent he brings. It was another great goal from him, we’re all really pleased for him.

“Everyone can see what he can do with the ball, his touch and technique, but he’s also really physical. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s strong, so powerful and can run with the ball. He takes on players and has the power in his body to beat them. Then there’s his finishing – he has a great strike with his left foot.”

Looking ahead to City, Ødegaard acknowledged their struggles this season but emphasised their quality. With recent history adding extra intensity to the fixture, he called on fans to create a strong atmosphere as Arsenal enter a crucial phase of the campaign.

“Today we face Manchester City, which is always one of the biggest games of the season,” Odegaard wrote. “It maybe feels a bit different to what we would have been expecting a few months ago. It’s been strange to be fair, we’re not used to seeing them losing games and dropping points but it’s proof of how tough this league is, how difficult every game is and how you have to be so switched on for every single moment.

“But everyone knows the quality in their team, and how tough the game will be. It’s another battle for us, and with the history between us over the past couple of years, it’s a special game. Let’s be up for it, and be ready for hopefully a big night at home.

“At this stage of the season, coming into the last few months, the games are bigger and there is more to play for. The stakes are high, and we have to make things happen. We can do that together, by creating a great atmosphere inside the stadium again today, and embracing it together.”

Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is continuing to put in good performances, much to the delight of Declan Rice.

It appears we have another gem on our hands, Arsenal fans.

Teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly is another Hale End product that is following in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe by bursting onto the scene and looking supremely comfortable at the level.

Initially played due to necessity with Arsenal’s defensive injuries, Lewis-Skelly’s performances have been so good that Mikel Arteta has kept the faith and started the teenager over Riccardo Calafiori in the last few games.

His latest superb display against Ipswich Town saw Myles often invert infield and demanded the ball. His physicality was on show multiple times, too as he wasn’t afraid to get into challenges and get dirty—something not all teenagers do at the elite level.

Such was Myles’ performance, midfielder Declan Rice had high praise for his young teammate.

“He can go to the top, this kid is just special, very special,” Rice said via arsenal.com. “For an 18-year-old to be that good, that comfortable, that strong – it was like he was built in a lab! I said that to him the other day, it’s just ridiculous how good he is, but he has a long way to go. He’s so level-headed, he’s got a great family around him, I know his mum looks after him really well and all the boys at the training ground do too.”

While Lewis-Skelly’s rise to starter has bene nothing short of superb, there is still a lot of work to do if he is to maintain this level.

Of course, it would be naive to think that Myles has now nailed down the starting left-back role, but thus far, he’s been keeping Calafiori on the bench, which is a big statement in itself.

There will be ups and downs as the year goes on, but Rice is confident the teenager can get to where he wants to go.

“We have a really good crop of youngsters coming through and he can be what he wants to be, he just needs to stay focused and always want more and he can do that,” Rice added.

With the Gunners not in action until New Year’s Day against Brentford, Lewis-Skelly will get a nice break having been thrust into the starting side and will have time to take stock of what has been a rather busy period.