Martin Ødegaard’s Mentorship
Martin Ødegaard, the captain of Arsenal, expressed enthusiasm about mentoring promising 15-year-olds Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, aiming to help them excel within the senior squad. Both young talents have showcased their skills impressively during the club’s preseason tour in Asia, and they may feature in the highly anticipated match against Tottenham taking place in Hong Kong on Thursday.
Young Talents Making Headlines
Dowman, a playmaker, recently made headlines for his decisive contribution as a substitute in Arsenal’s win against Newcastle, drawing parallels between his playing style and that of Ødegaard. Having signed with Real Madrid at just 16, Ødegaard’s own career has seen a journey filled with loans to various clubs including Heerenveen, Vitesse, and Real Sociedad, until he secured a permanent transfer to Arsenal in 2021 for €40 million.
Supportive Atmosphere at Arsenal
Now serving as captain, Ødegaard praised the entire Arsenal squad for their supportive atmosphere towards younger players, particularly noting the exceptional talent of both Dowman and Salmon. He stated:
“The whole squad really excels at helping young players. These two are incredibly gifted for their age, and I aim to share my knowledge with them, guide them properly, and cultivate the right mindset. Their quality is evident, and I just want to assist them in feeling comfortable so they can shine and showcase their abilities. Their performances on this tour have been fantastic, and I’m eager to see what the future holds for them.”
