I think I just started to play football when I started to walk
to be honest. My dad was a footballer so it came naturally. I heard my mum and my dad
always telling me that I always went around kicking a ball since I was really young,
so I think as soon as I started walking I started to kick a ball as well.
My dad was always my coach. He was taking care of all the training and always helping me. We
trained together and with individual training, but the interest was always
coming from me and from the inside. I was always the one asking him to play and train,
and do extra things. It came from me and I think that’s important because you need to like what
you are doing and to really have the passion for it. Luckily for me I had that since the first day.
I started playing for Strømsgodset when I was 11. Obviously in the younger teams, I played
with under-15s and under-16s. In the end, in the under-19s. Then I started training with the first
team when I was 14, and the year I turned 15, I was training with them everyday and I started to
play in the league as well. It was a bit strange at that time because I was going to school and
I had to leave school to train with the first team and obviously play the games as well. It
was very special for me. I remember the first game. I
came on and it was 0-0. Just afterwards we scored and I had an assist as well, so that was a crazy
moment. After I scored my first goal, and the day after was the national day of Norway as well, and
walking around the streets and being 15, there was a lot of attention. So it was a bit strange!
At that time I didn’t really think about it. I was there and I was just happy coming through,
and playing for my country is one of the biggest things you can achieve in football.
I’m so proud of it, but at that time I just played football and I was happy.
Now when I look back, I realise how young I was and how crazy it was. But at that time, I just
enjoyed it. The more goals I scored and the better I played, the bigger interest there was. After the
season, we talked about it and we decided I wanted to leave. I felt ready for a new challenge and
then we obviously started to talk about teams and who was interested. For me, it was easy.
It’s a special club and when they want you, it’s something special. For me, the most important
thing was the way they talked about me and the plans they had for me. They also had a second team
where Zidane was the coach at that time. The plan was that I trained with the first team and played
with the second team. I think for me at that time, at 16 years old, I think it was a good solution.
I was excited. I was in the squad I think a week before, and I was eager to get my
debut. It the last game of the season and I remember before the game they told me that I
would play the last 30 or 35 minutes. Then when I saw Cristiano Ronaldo going off,
it was unreal and a special moment. I will always remember that moment for the rest of my life.
I think when I first to Heerenveen, it was after three years in Madrid. I didn’t play with
the first team in Madrid, playing there in the second team was good for a while, but then after
a certain time I think it was not good enough for my development, so that’s why I decided I wanted
to go somewhere else and get some playing time in a better league. I feel like that’s maybe the
place where I grew up as a person. When I went to Vitesse the year after, I felt like I took
another step in terms of performance on the pitch. I started to be more decisive, scoring more goals,
giving more assists and that was another step on the pitch. I think I had a good season there so I
think my loan spells were really important and crucial for me to keep developing.
I think the most important thing was how the club and how the manager wants to play, and the style.
I’ve said many times I’ve always enjoyed the way Arsenal play football,
now especially after Mikel took over,
this style suits me really well. I think that was more important than the dream of playing
in the Premier League. The most important thing was the club, the style and everything around.
It couldn’t have been a better way to score my first Premier League goal.
In that game, I know how much it means for the fans and the club. I think we played
a really good game, but then they went 1-0 up. I then scored a goal in a crucial moment
before the break so it was a special day and one which I definitely want to remember.
I’m having a good time, the manager is great and the team is good. So many good players,
and the way we play I think suits me really well. I think I’m adapting pretty good to
the league and to the style, so I’m happy.