Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has surprisingly overlooked club legend Thierry Henry when asked which former Gunners star he would most like to play alongside, instead choosing Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The 26-year-old Norwegian international made the revelation during a recent interview with ESPN, where he explained his preference for Fabregas over other Arsenal icons including Henry and Santi Cazorla.

"The natural one to say would be [Thierry] Henry," Odegaard admitted before continuing, "But I loved [Cesc] Fabregas and I also loved Cazorla. I am going to go with Fabregas."

Odegaard, who has established himself as a key playmaker for Arsenal since joining permanently from Real Madrid, explained that his choice was influenced by the positional and stylistic similarities between himself and the former Spanish international.

"We play the same position, we both like to get on the ball and try to make things happen," he elaborated. "I always watched him when I was young. The way he dominated the game with the ball, his engine, and how he controlled the pace of the game was next level. So it would be cool [to play alongside him]."

Fabregas, who currently manages Serie A side Como, enjoyed a distinguished playing career that included spells at Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Monaco. During his time with the Gunners from 2003 to 2011, he emerged as one of the Premier League's most creative midfielders before returning to his boyhood club Barcelona.

Odegaard's comments highlight the lasting impact Fabregas had on aspiring midfielders of the current generation, with the Arsenal captain clearly drawing inspiration from the Spaniard's technical ability and game intelligence.

The Norwegian has been instrumental in Arsenal's recent resurgence under Mikel Arteta, with his creative passing and leadership helping to restore the club's competitive edge in the Premier League.