Martin Odegaard makes Riccardo Calafiori prediction as Arsenal dressing room talks revealed

Martin Odegaard has revealed that a World Cup place has been on the agenda between him and Arsenal teammate Riccardo Calafiori. The two Gunners are currently rivals for a spot at next summer’s tournament in the USA.

Both Norway and Italy were drawn in Group I of qualification. Norway are currently top with four wins from four, while Italy are one place behind, on nine points from four games, following Monday’s dramatic 5-4 victory vs Israel.

And asked if a place at the tournament has been discussed in the dressing room, Odegaard revealed that it has been mentioned. Speaking to TV2, he said: "Yes …We’ve talked about it, we had to talk a little bit about the last game.

"We’ve come across it, but as I said before we met them last time, they have a very solid team and a lot of good players. They’re probably going to be good all the way through, so it’s up to us to keep going and push on."

Odegaard and Calafiori will meet on the pitch later this season as Italy welcome Norway in the final qualifier in November. The Arsenal captain's comments about his teammate are not the first time that he has spoken out over the international break.

Odegaard also hit back at Arsenal icon Tony Adams for his suggestions that he should be stripped of the captaincy. Speaking earlier this week, he said: "I don’t care that much, to be honest.

"Everyone can have their opinion and say what they want, and I’m all right with that. I can’t care about what everyone says."

He added: "There’s a lot of negative and positive things to say, but I can’t let it affect me. That’s what I’ve thought throughout my career."

While they will be rivals for a World Cup spot, Calafiori and Odegaard will be reunited as teammates this weekend. Arsenal take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening at the Emirates aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the season.

Odegaard will hope to have left his injury issues behind him for the game. He was only afforded a brief cameo vs Liverpool before the international break.

Meanwhile, Calafiori has enjoyed an impressive start to the new season. The Italian defender has chalked up one goal and two assists across his three Premier League appearances so far.

Following the clash with Forest, Arsenal then kick off their Champions League campaign. They travel to Athletic Bilbao on matchday one.

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