Footballing chemistry, fatherhood and wives which might be greatest mates. All these components, and extra, have made Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard inseparable at Arsenal.
The Havertz and Odegaard present has taken centre stage on the membership lately, their on-pitch performances powering the strongest of begins for the reigning Premier League champions.
In all competitions this time period, Arsenal have struck ten targets, with the pair liable for seven of them.
Havertz’s dummy fooled Chelsea’s backline on Sunday – however not Odegaard, who strolled via to gather Christos Tzolis’ cross and rating.
Most lately, Odegaard rescued a victory away at Napoli on Wednesday night time within the Champions League after a formidable Gunners show wasn’t matched by their ending (their anticipated targets – or xG – exceeded 4).
As Tzolis’ cross reached the Norwegian simply outdoors the realm, his eyes lit up, driving ahead on that wand of a left foot.
As soon as he noticed a niche, the captain curled the ball with tempo and precision into the bottom-left nook to make it 4 targets in 5 matches for a person on a mission to show he’s worthy of a spot on the high desk of elite midfielders.
Martin Odegaard (left) and Kai Havertz have been two of the celebs of Arsenal’s spectacular begin to the 2026-27 season
The pair’s goalscoring type has been helped by a detailed bond off the pitch, which is the topic of a operating joke at Arsenal’s HQ
The reigning Premier League champions have scored ten targets in all competitions this time period, and Havertz and Odegaard struck seven of them
Odegaard and Havertz’s current performances have been helped by their bond off the pitch, the pair behaving extra like brothers than colleagues.
After becoming a member of the Gunners from Chelsea for £65million in June 2023, Havertz initially endured a tricky time in north London.
The left-sided midfield place Arteta had earmarked for the German was proving a mismatch, Havertz struggling to adapt to the function.
The nadir noticed Havertz be the recipient of widespread groans on the Emirates throughout a 3-1 win over Manchester United by which he misplaced the ball within the build-up to Marcus Rashford’s opener.
He wasn’t scoring, both, enduring a nine-game drought which ended in opposition to Bournemouth in September 2023, Odegaard having grabbed the ball to present his team-mate the penalty.
Havertz rolled it dwelling for his first Arsenal purpose. The captain carried out the same gesture for Viktor Gyokeres in opposition to Everton final December, permitting the Swede to take a penalty amid a difficult goalscoring interval for the striker.
Odegaard took it upon himself to assist Havertz settle. A shy character, regardless of his imposing 6ft 4in body, the German has benefitted from the help of his Norwegian team-mate.
Their wives, Helene Spilling and Sophia Weber, are shut. The {couples} have holidayed collectively. Havertz was a groomsman at Odegaard’s marriage ceremony.
In addition they turned fathers simply months aside, on the identical age of 25. Odegaard and Helene introduced in August 2024 that they have been anticipating a child. Their son, Matheo, was born on December 1, 2024.
Havertz and Sophia made their announcement in November 2024, earlier than Sophia gave beginning in March 2025.
Odegaard and Havertz holidayed collectively in Ibiza throughout the low season of 2024
The pair with their wives Helene Spilling and Sophia Weber, who’re additionally agency mates
It’s a operating joke across the membership about how shut the pair are. It displays the qualities of a captain who is claimed to be the glue between his group.
When Sophia was subjected to horrific abuse on Instagram after Havertz had his penalty saved in an FA Cup defeat by Manchester United in January 2025 – which included threats in opposition to their unborn little one – Odegaard stayed in shut contact with Havertz, supporting the household via it.
Odegaard was the primary participant to textual content Havertz when he joined. He did the identical for different gamers, too, like Gyokeres and Mikel Merino. From recommendation on the most effective areas to dwell and restaurant suggestions, to an open door every time assist is required, he makes himself out there.
He’s additionally recognized to ring gamers who’re going via a tricky interval to test in on them and provide his help.
Final season, even when he wasn’t enjoying because of harm, the function Odegaard performed behind the scenes was extremely valued by Arteta and his employees.
He was stated to be busy across the coaching floor and on matchdays, organising completely different components. Group preferences on minor particulars like timings and relaxation have been gathered by Odegaard and handed on to employees.
One other similarity – each Havertz and Odegaard confronted their justifiable share of adversity final season and are actually hellbent on making up for misplaced time.
Havertz suffered an knee harm on the opening day of the final marketing campaign in August, which saved him out for 5 months, earlier than sustaining a number of muscle points later within the season.
His captain, in the meantime, suffered a shoulder harm in September 2025, a knee difficulty in October and from March onwards.
Odegaard missed a lot of final season via harm, scoring only one purpose in all competitions. This marketing campaign he appears to be like a person reborn
As does Havertz, who was saved out by a knee harm for 5 months from the start of 2025-26
Now the pair are decided to make up for misplaced time – and encourage Arsenal to extra silverware
These points derailed their campaigns. Odegaard, for instance, scored only one purpose in all competitions. That’s how stark the drop-off was, and makes his current type all of the extra spectacular.
Each gamers have turn out to be central figures in Arteta’s Arsenal, and with each match, assured and producing once more, their understanding might show decisive within the membership’s pursuit of extra silverware.
From vacation plans to troublesome moments, the pair have constructed a relationship that stretches properly past the pitch. Now, Havertz and Odegaard look decided to make up for misplaced time – collectively.
