SMART ARSE

Ode: This proves I made wise move

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FOR most people inside the Emirates, Arsenal's Champions League dogfight with Porto was almost too much to bear.

But for Martin Odegaard, nights like Tuesday were the reason he wanted to join the Gunners in the first place.

Odegaard could have done without the tension of extra-time and a penalty shoot-out, of course.

But winning on Europe's biggest stage to seal a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years is what Odegaard had in mind when he turned his back on Real Madrid for Arsenal in 2021.

Odegaard failed to make the grade in Madrid.

But now he is leading Arsenal on a glorious charge towards success at home and abroad and admits it was part of his plan all along.

The Norwegian superstar, who cost what now looks like a bar£30m, said: gain definitely.