Martin Ødegaard set for major milestone against Leeds | OneFootball

Martin Ødegaard will mark his 200th appearance for the club when Leeds United visit the Emirates on Saturday, underlining just how integral he has become since first pulling on the shirt in January 2021.

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The Norwegian midfielder, who joined from Real Madrid, has reached the milestone at remarkable speed. His 199 appearances have come from a possible 229 matches, meaning he has featured in 86 per cent of the club’s fixtures since his debut.

In that time, only Gabriel Magalhães has amassed more minutes on the pitch.

Ødegaard’s availability has been a cornerstone of the side’s development under Mikel Arteta, with the captain missing just 17 league fixtures across four-and-a-half years.

Photo via Arsenal.com

His contribution stretches far beyond his consistency. He has scored 41 goals and provided 36 assists, placing him second only to Bukayo Saka for direct goal involvements during this time. The partnership between the two has been especially productive, with Saka benefiting seven times from Ødegaard’s creativity.

The statistics further illustrate his influence. Among Premier League players since his arrival, only Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have created more chances across all competitions.

In pressing terms, he ranks just behind Fernandes for regaining possession in the final third, evidence of the defensive industry that complements his vision.

Of his 199 outings so far, 153 have come in the Premier League, 20 in the Champions League, and 13 in the Europa League, with the rest spread across domestic cups and the Community Shield.

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He has already captained the side 131 times, lifting silverware at Wembley in 2023. His win percentage stands at 60 per cent, with 97 Premier League victories to his name, leaving him on the verge of a century.

The scale of his contribution is perhaps best framed by comparison. Since January 2021, only Saka (197), Gabriel (195), and Gabriel Martinelli (194) come close in appearance numbers.

All being well, Saturday will see him become the 118th player to reach 200 games for the Gunners, but few have done so at such pace, nor with such influence in defining the side’s modern identity.