Former Arsenal player Paul Merson has spoken to Sky Sports and said that he was wrong in judging Martin Odegaard.
The former Real Madrid man arrived in the summer on a permanent deal after spending the second half of last season on loan at the Emirates. After impressing during the loan spell, the Norwegian has become one of the team’s most influential players now.
Merson had a lot of praise for Odegaard while also mentioning the reservations he had about the playmaker as he told Sky Sports(via Metro):
“Odegaard has really come to the party now. He is a very good footballer. I didn’t really see that at the start of his time with Arsenal, but I really see it now. He’s a player that sees things very quickly and he has great movement. He is a quality player.”
The former England international also commented on the situation at Real Madrid, as he added:
“I think it did take him a while to get going and settle into life at Arsenal. He probably hoped things would work out for him at Real Madrid, but now he’s at Arsenal, and he’s seen what a club it is, and it’s a move that’s worked out for both parties.”
Arsenal Fever View:
While there may have been a few doubters of Odegaard at the beginning of the season, it is clear that the Norway captain has silenced them. With a string of impressive performances backed with some serious leadership, the 23-year-old has become one of Mikel Arteta’s most trusted players.
This is visible in the way the Gunners approach the game as their attack seems to flow mainly through the No. 8. And in particular, the partnership that the midfielder has with young star Bukayo Saka has been a revelation on the right flank.
Arsenal helped by Odegaard, find themselves in a great position to finish in the top four for the first time since the 2015/16 season. If the north Londoners do get back into the Champions League, they will be very happy with the investment they made on the Norway international.
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