The concern of the Gunners fan community after the knock he received late in the game against Aston Villa (2-1) this week speaks volumes about its impact and the expectations it generates. Martin Odegaard is no longer just a former Arsenal wonderkid. He’s the captain of the Gunners. Their master play too. And a key asset of Mikel Arteta’s team, which is making an ideal start to the season to post a perfect record at the start of the Premier League season: 15 points… out of 15. And Odegaard is clearly no stranger to it.
If the arrival of Gabriel Jesus, with his efficiency, changes many things on the banks of the Thames, just like the presence of William Saliba in defense, the high level performances of Martin Odegaard are at the heart of the excellent course of the Gunners so far. “He works wonders, applauded former Arsenal star Ian Wright on the BBC last week. It is in the right place in this key area. He creates things. As a good captain, he also sets an example with his pressing, his quality of passes and his composure to find space”.
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In difficult times, he takes the ball
Promoted to captain this summer by Arteta despite his 23 years, the Norwegian fully assumes his role by regularly showing the way forward to his partners, both through his leadership and his grandiose way of lighting up the game.”His influence ! In difficult times, he takes the ball. That’s what he does“, appreciates his coach when he was asked about what his captain brings, before explaining how this “promotion” could have changed him. “He’s even more humble and hungry, which is a good combination (note: since he got the armband). But at 23, he already has a lot of experience and knows what pressure is. It comes naturally to him“.
Martin Odegaard is indeed not the partridge of the year. As everyone knows, as his story made the buzz a few years ago, we are talking about a former prodigy, who took his first steps in the professional world in Strømsgodset in Norway at 15 years old before committing with Real Madrid at 16. And if he never managed to really impose himself in the Spanish capital, where he chained loans (Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem, Real Sociedad, Arsenal), this experience made him grow in many ways.
Martin Ödegaard
Credit: Getty Images
He looks so much like De Bruyne
Since his arrival at Arsenal, where he is finally in the right place to shine with a coach who counts on him and makes him the cornerstone of his attacking animation, Odegaard continues to seduce and take on another dimension. His way of always having his head up to play quickly and find the right option is a treat. With his vision of the game, his technique and his silky left paw, he has clearly taken Arsenal to the next level in creation. “He looks so much like Kevin De Bruyne, says Tony Cascarino, the former Irish striker of OM, today on TalkSPORT. With his ability to pass the ball, to improve it. And you have to give Arteta a lot of credit because he had him on loan and he didn’t let go. He makes it one of his key recruitments“.
If Arsenal had the hollow nose and found a rare pearl able to make him find the light, another club can surely harbor some regrets at the moment: Real Madrid of course. Because the number 8 of Arsenal shows that the Merengue had seen correctly by betting on him from an early age. But given the strong competition in the middle, they couldn’t really give him a chance. And they may not have known (or could) be patient enough with the Norwegian.
“You know what baffles me a bit is how Real Madrid could let him slip away when Modric and Kroos are at the end of their careers. It’s strange because he’s such a talent”, was surprised Gary Lineker at the microphone of Match of The day a few days ago. And he may not be the only one to ask the question if Martin Odegaard continues to shine as he has been doing for a few months now.
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