Moment Arsenal star Odegaard hits Police officer during victory parade

Arsenal star Martin Odegaard found himself at the center of an unexpected incident during the team’s Premier League title parade in north London on Sunday, after a football he headed from the top of the team’s double-decker bus struck a police officer on the head.

Nearly a million fans lined the streets to celebrate Arsenal’s first league title in nearly two decades. As the players rode atop three red buses, Odegaard attempted a playful header into the crowd behind the barriers. However, the ball veered and hit a police officer walking below.

Footage from the parade showed Odegaard ducking immediately to avoid detection, laughing along with teammates who jokingly called out, “Arrest him! Arrest him!”

The parade, which began at 2:15pm, wound through Islington over the course of two hours amid a carnival atmosphere. Fans climbed on bus stops, rooftops, and windows to get closer views of the celebrations, while red smoke from flares filled the sky.

Among the festivities, midfielder Declan Rice performed a rap to “Ice Ice Baby” in reference to a sponsorship campaign, while Ben White teased teammate Piero Hincapie after an earlier wardrobe mishap during Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Burnley.

Despite the jubilation, law enforcement faced challenges controlling the crowd. The Metropolitan Police reported 16 arrests related to offences including disorderly behaviour, drug use, and assaults on emergency workers. Several officers were seen managing crowd surges and minor clashes, with one constable knocked over in the chaos.

The London Fire Brigade assisted approximately 75 people in incidents involving heights and minor fires, including a flare-triggered alarm at a hotel along the parade route.

Odegaard, 27, appeared unbothered by the incident, joining in the celebrations as Arsenal supporters cheered across the city.