Key keywords: Martin Odegaard, Arsenal injury update, David Raya influence, Arsenal captain, Premier League title race, exclusive interview, Gunners 2024/25 season, Premier League news In a wide-ranging exclusive interview published by Arsenal’s official media channel on Thursday, club captain Martin Odegaard has offered a transparent update on his recent minor calf injury, while lauding goalkeeper David Raya’s underrated impact on the squad’s strong 2024/25 Premier League campaign so far. Odegaard, who picked up the knock during the Gunners’ 2-1 away win against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, clarified that the injury is far less severe than initial fears suggested, and he is on track to return to full training by the end of the week, in time for Arsenal’s home fixture against Aston Villa next Saturday. “I felt a slight tweak in my calf in the 78th minute against Brighton, and my first thought was ‘not now, not in the middle of this run’”, the 26-year-old Norwegian playmaker explained, referring to the tightly contested title race that sees Arsenal sitting one point above defending champions Manchester City with nine matches left to play. “The medical team acted really fast, scanned me straight after the game, and confirmed it’s just a minor strain, no muscle tear, which is a huge weight off my shoulders. As captain, I feel a massive responsibility to be on the pitch for every minute I can, especially at this stage of the season where every dropped point can cost you the trophy.” Odegaard went on to dedicate a large portion of the interview to praising Spanish goalkeeper David Raya, who joined the club on a permanent deal last summer after a successful loan spell, and has established himself as the undisputed first-choice keeper ahead of Aaron Ramsdale this term. “I don’t think people outside the club really understand how big of an influence Raya has been for us this season, both on and off the pitch,” Odegaard noted. “On the pitch, his ability to play out from the back under pressure, make those crucial reaction saves in big moments, and command the entire penalty area has given our whole backline so much more confidence. For me as a midfield player, it’s a game-changer because I don’t have to drop 10 yards deeper every time we build up from the back, he can pick me out with a perfect pass even when I’m marked tight. Off the pitch, he’s such a calm, positive presence in the dressing room, he’s always talking to the lads, giving feedback, and pushing everyone to be better. We’ve kept 16 clean sheets in the league so far this season, and a huge part of that is down to him and the work he puts in every day in training.” Odegaard also added that the entire squad is fully focused on the remaining fixtures, and is not paying attention to external noise around the title race, insisting that the team will take each game one at a time as they bid to win Arsenal’s first Premier League title since 2004.