Arsenal await Aspmyra on Thursday when Bodø/Glimt try to avenge the 3-0 defeat in London.

It can quickly turn into a different type of battle. Where Glimt has won just two away games in Europe, the yellow jerseys have 16 wins from 17 games on their own artificial turf.

This includes two scalps against Roma (6-1, 2-1). However, manager José Mourinho hasn’t been kind to the artificial turf either. For Or After defeats in the Serie Liga. The Portuguese thought football was ‘a completely different sport’ on the artificial surface.

Ødegaard himself is used to artificial turf after his childhood and youth in Drammen and Strømsgodset. Asked by Nettavisen what pitfalls Arsenal could fall into on Thursday, he replied:

– The biggest pitfall is talking too much about artificial grass and making excuses about it, the weather and all. I think that’s the biggest trap you can fall into, Ødegaard said and continued:

– We are focused on one thing and that is winning the game. That is what matters. So it’s the same for us whether we play on artificial grass or normal grass, whether it’s snowing or whatever. That’s not what counts. We have to win the game and that’s what we have to focus on.

NRK highlighted Mourinho’s conclusion to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. We then asked if the Spaniard agreed with his coaching colleague.

– Obviously, you are aware that there is a part that is different. The speed is different, the way you can use the track is different. We have to adapt to it. We know that. We are here to win the game. Tomorrow night we will play on artificial grass, replied Arteta.

Full of praise Ødegaard

Arsenal captain Ødegaard is obviously much more accustomed to artificial turf than his team-mates after ‘growing up’ on the surface.

He also has fond memories of Asmyra. The then 15-year-old Ødegaard excelled against the hosts when Strømsgodset claimed their first win at Bodø in 2014.

– I have good memories of here. We won 4-0, and it was one of the best games I played at Godset that season, I think. I have good memories from here, and hopefully we can deliver something similar tomorrow, Ødegaard told NRK with a smile.

Eight years later, Ødegaard is both captain and conductor for Arsenal and Norway. THE Bodø/Glimt will quickly notice this on Thursday evening.

– The thing about Ødegaard is the pace player he is in the team. Where you think you have him under control, he suddenly opens up the game for the opposition with a single pass. That’s it little other players who have, Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen tells NRK.