Martin Ödegaard thinks Virgil van Dijk is one of the most difficult opponents he has played against in his career. The Arsenal midfielder, who lost the chance of World Cup qualification with Norway on Tuesday by losing 2-0 to the Dutch national team, spoke highly of the center defender of Liverpool in a recent interview. The two will face each other again next Saturday, when Arsenal take on manager Jürgen Klopp’s side at Anfield Road.
“That’s a tough one,” degaard muses initially when asked to name the toughest opponent of his career. “Of course I have to mention Sergio Ramos, I played against him a number of times in Spain.” Ramos was degaard’s team-mate at Real Madrid and faced the Norwegian when he was loaned out to Real Sociedad in the 2019-20 season. Ödegaard then also mentions Van Dijk’s name. “I played against him with the national team, so I would like to name them both. They were tough.”
The former player of sc Heerenveen and Vitesse was in the field for ninety minutes on Tuesday evening and had to passively watch as Van Dijk and his associates deprived Norway of every chance of World Cup qualification. Group mate Turkey did win (1-2) on a visit to Montenegro and thus qualified for the play-offs, which will take place in March. Ödegaard has hinted in the past that he would like to wear the Liverpool shirt. The midfielder called The Reds in November 2014 his ‘dream club’.
Ödegaard’s season is going through trial and error for the time being. In addition to the elimination with Norway, his last 90 minutes date from September, when Tottenham Hotspur was tied to the victory cart at home (3-1). Since then, the midfielder, who came over from Real Madrid for 40 million euros this summer, has mainly had to make do with substitutions. That could change next Saturday, when Arsenal can come within three points of league-leader Chelsea in the Premier League.
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