Arsenal hit the jackpot on Martin Odegaard
Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to six Premier League wins from seven matches so far this season, as the feel-good factor appears to be returning to the club following years of stagnation.
They currently sit atop the league table, and although it’s too early to suggest a title challenge, securing a Champions League place should be the main priority.
Sealing summer signings such as Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arteta clearly knows how to get the best from the transfer market, however, it was a Norwegian player who he really hit the jackpot with
Martin Odegaard was regarded as one of the finest young talents in Europe when Real Madrid signed him aged just 16, and his career has been full of twists and turns ever since.
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Loan spells at Heerenveen and Vitesse Arnhem did little to suggest the youngster was on the verge of greatness, with many believing he was just another player to show promise before being destroyed at Real Madrid and moving to a lower level to build themselves back up.
A loan move to Arsenal changed all this in January 2021. Two goals and two assists in 20 appearances for the club was solid if unspectacular, but Arteta saw potential and made the move permanent for a fee of £30m.
The £115k-per-week star is now valued at €70m (£62.4m) by CIES Football Observatory, which is an incredible 108% increase on his original fee.
Last season, the 23-year-old scored seven goals and registered five assists in 40 matches, again a solid campaign but nothing out of the ordinary, but it appears this season might be the year where he really moves to the next level.
Odegaard’s rating on SofaScore is 7.37 after six league matches this season and has seen him score three goals register 2.2 shots per match and make 1.7 key passes each game.
These performances have been a big factor in Arsenal beginning the season like a steam train, scoring plenty of goals and dominating teams.
Yannick Bolasie has described Odegaard as a “baller” and it finally looks like the player has gotten the perfect platform to shine on in the Premier League.
Arteta certainly hit the jackpot in making his move permanent back in January last year, it could be the best signing he will ever make at the club.
