Football is littered with the wrecks of burned-out wonderkids, but here’s why it’s no surprise Martin Odegaard has risen again, writes MATT BARLOW – 10 years after interviewing his dad in Norway

The Arsenal captain was 15 at the time and his father was trying to filter out the noise. His phone lit up daily with proposals from Europe’s biggest clubs, and then came a call for the Norwegian senior team. Football reporters began travelling all over Europe to find out what all the fuss was about.

“The big danger for any young boy is that they are satisfied too quickly,” Hans-Erik Odegaard told me with the wisdom of a former footballer turned coach, as we discussed his son’s future at Drammen’s modest Strömsgodset stadium in August 2014. “They have to be hungry to improve.”

On Saturday, exactly 10 years later, Martin Odegaard led Arsenal to victory at Aston Villa, hoping to improve on last year’s season.

Now he is in his prime with all that potential realised. And he still performs with delightful fluidity, taking the ball on the half turn, driving the first challenge, hitting passes easily enough to see from the stands but less noticeable in the heat of the battle.

Then he finds the ball that no one on the pitch expects, such as the back pass to Bukayo Saka just before Leandro Trossard’s goal at Villa Park.

It reminds me of Odegaard’s insight into the game and his appreciation of the changing patterns around him. It took me back to that trip to Norway ten years ago, when the talent was clearly visible but nothing was certain.

Football is littered with the wreckage of burnt-out prodigies. Odegaard’s decision to select Real Madrid from a long list of suitors seemed to backfire and his resolve must have been tested when they gave him a chance in Spain before loaning him to the Netherlands.

In Drammen, no one was frightened. Those who knew him and his family were confident that his attitude would pull him through and that he would flourish.

Even as he fulfils his potential to be among Europe’s best, and was last week selected by his peers for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, Odegaard remains hungry and motivated to achieve more with his club and country.

Norway will face Kazakhstan and Austria in the Nations League next month. There is still plenty of room for improvement, as the country failed to qualify for the European Championship. At club level, Norway has yet to experience the thrill of a major prize.

There was a winner’s medal in the Copa del Rey thanks to a loan spell at Real Sociedad, but the all-Basque final was postponed for a year due to the Covid pandemic and by the time they got their hands on the trophy it was already on loan to Arsenal.

Coincidentally, Mikel Merino was the best player of the match in the final against Athletic Bilbao and he is now on his way from San Sebastian to North London to join him, no doubt hoping the pair can recreate the same successful midfield relationship.

At Arsenal, where they have a habit of giving the captain’s armband to the wrong person for the wrong reasons, Odegaard has developed into a natural leader.

On the pitch he quietly leads by example, his silky style fitting of the brand created under Arsène Wenger and his magical left foot reminiscent of Liam Brady from another era.

Besides that, he is willing to face the media and take responsibility. He is a perfect mentor for Arsenal’s rising stars.

At 15, Ethan Nwaneri was the youngest to appear in the Premier League when he made his debut against Brentford. That was almost two years ago. Nwaneri has only made one appearance in the league since then, but why the rush?

Just look at Odegaard’s timeline from schoolboy star at Stromsgodset to established star for an elite club. It’s worth bearing this in mind at a time when Premier League clubs are investing millions in the world’s best teenage talent and expecting an immediate return.

Odegaard and Nwaneri were seen in a conversation for a video on club media during the pre-season tour of the US. ‘Play your game and play with confidence,’ was the skipper’s advice.

He also promised that there will come a time when the fascination with age will cease and the talk of broken records will be overshadowed by the football he plays. Football is impatient, but Odegaard has become a fine example.

Hans-Erik can be proud. He has returned to the coaching career he put on hold to help Martin through the early stages of his career and is co-responsible for Sandefjord, one of the clubs he played for. They are hobbling along at the bottom of the Norwegian Eliteserien, while Martin is aiming for the top of the Premier League.

FIVE THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK…

Brighton deserve praise for Welbeck revival

Danny Welbeck has scored more Premier League goals and played more games for Brighton than any other club, having been signed on a free transfer aged 29 after a series of injuries and his sacking from Watford.

The talent spotting at the Amex gets a lot of credit for unearthing hidden gems, but it’s impressive in another way to breathe new life into Welbeck, keep him fit and squeeze 25 goals out of him. At 33, he’s started the season with two goals.

It’s satisfying to see Szmodics taking a step forward

Ipswich have spent a lot of money on the best players in the Championship, which can be risky when you end up paying Premier League prices for a very good Championship team.

But it is satisfying to see players perform with confidence, as Sam Szmodics did with a goal on his Manchester City debut.

Some clubs will regret not signing Viktor Gyokeres when he left Coventry last year.

Spurs set to benefit from Clarke transfer

Tottenham will receive a significant cut in Jack Clarke’s transfer fee to Ipswich after a 25 per cent sell-on clause was included when he joined Sunderland on loan permanently in 2022.

That’s almost £5 million, which won’t buy you much in the Premier League, but it’s not to be sneezed at either.

Exeter transformed their youth system with the sale of Ollie Watkins when he left for Aston Villa, and now Peterborough will be hoping Ivan Toney doesn’t leave Brentford for free when his contract expires next year.

Former Spurs product steps into Clarke’s shoes

As soon as one former Tottenham winger leaves Sunderland, another steps into his shoes.

Romaine Mundle turned down a contract with Tottenham Hotspur last summer to sign for Standard Liege, where he made little impression until he moved to Wearside in January.

On Saturday, Mundle, 21, scored the only goal against Burnley to send Sunderland top of the Championship.

Kilman impresses by stepping out of Hammers defence

If West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen is a bit like Arjen Robben when he accelerates, cuts with his left foot and fires low, then Max Kilman is a bit like Rudi Krol when he steps out of defence and slots the ball across Bowen’s goal at Crystal Palace.