"I hate myself for that" - Laura Woods admits she made a huge mistake about Arsenal

Laura Woods recently admitted she 'hates herself' for questioning one of Arsenal's shrewdest purchases under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners are currently eight points clear at the top of the Premier League following a spectacular start to the season.

Arsenal finished fifth last season, with few predicting an improvement this impressive. Arteta's managed to implement his style and every player has bought into his methods.

What's been key is establishing leaders in the dressing room, with one man standing out in that regard.

Martin Odegaard moved to the Emirates Stadium on a permanent basis in 2021, a move that received criticism at the time.

The 24-year-old had spent half of the 20/21 season on loan from Real Madrid, failing to impress as Arsenal finished eighth in the league.

Arteta still decided to spend £30 million on Odegaard the following summer. It's ended up being an absolute bargain. Odegaard has scored seven goals and registered five assists this term while also becoming captain last year following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure.

At the time of his appointment, he was the second-youngest captain in the division.

Woods was among the Norway international's detractors a few years ago, conceding she's changed her tune in recent months.

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"I think a lot of people were sleeping on Arsenal in general," she told talkSPORT. "I think while that was happening Mikel Arteta was knitting together this amazing plan that he had.

"I think a lot of credit needs to go to the hierarchy for backing Arteta and backing his vision. When you look at the players he brought in and you look at the price tag, I said 'Martin Odegaard for £30 million?'

She added: "I hate myself for questioning that, I hate myself for that. But I love this Arsenal side. I think the vision as well from Arteta to give Odegaard the captaincy as well, they see things we don’t, how this guy operates around the club and I think that was an inspired move to give him the captaincy."

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Woods, an Arsenal fan, mentioned the positive energy around Arsenal as she brought her speech to a close.

She concluded: "I’ve not seen an Arsenal team this connected to each other for years! For years and years.

"Not for my lifetime, obviously there was the 2004 team who were incredible and that kind of spirit that came all the way through the ’90s as well was wonderful.

"But then there was this huge gap and an absolute fall off, a real void and division between Arsenal fans. What we’re seeing at the moment is absolutely marvellous."