The Gunners - who are vying with Manchester City for the Premier League title - travel to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday (29.04.26) and the captain has urged the team to put past disappointments behind them as they stand on the brink of what could be a historic campaign for the club.

Odegaard said: "We have to live in the moment. At the moment, we are doing really well. We are in an amazing position in the league and in the Champions League. That's what we have to focus on: how to be at our best.

"How can you not enjoy it? We're playing in probably the toughest and most competitive league in the world, fighting for the title in the Premier League and we're in the semi-final of the Champions League.

"It is hard for me to understand how you could not enjoy that. It's what we've always dreamed about our whole lives, since I was a kid, This is the best part of the season. Everyone is up for it, the energy in the group is amazing."

There has been speculation that Odegaard could leave Arsenal this summer following an injury-plagued season, but the playmaker has dismissed such talk.

The Norwegian international said: "I don't know where that is coming from. My mindset is just about doing what I can every single day to do something special. There's always going to be talk and people speculating. I guess that is normal in football but it is not something I know anything about."

Arsenal were eliminated in last season's Champions League semi-finals by eventual winners PSG but Odegaard feels that the team has improved over the past 12 months.

He said: "I think we're stronger in different ways.

"We've got some new players in and I feel like we're stronger, I feel like we've learned from all those experiences last year and we're probably even more prepared now for this. I feel like we're up for it and you're ready to go."