‘Stepped up’: Sky Sports pundit suggests £30m Arsenal player has improved so much this season
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be very pleased with how his side have started this season.
It appears a corner has been turned at The Emirates, with the Gunners flying high at the top of the Premier League.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, via Football Daily, Mark Schwarzer has been talking about the Arsenal squad.
Schwarzer said he’d been seriously impressed with a number of players in the Arsenal squad this season.
He was asked to pinpoint who has been Arsenal’s best player this campaign, but couldn’t just give one name.
Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko both get mentions, as does long-serving midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Schwarzer also highlighted Martin Odegaard, and believed the Norwegian has improved so much this season.
Odegaard has the added responsibility of also being Arsenal’s captain this season, and has stepped up brilliantly.
The Norwegian already has four goals and two assists this season.
Arteta has tasked Odegaard with getting the best out of Arsenal’s front three, and judging by their performances this season, he’s certainly doing that.
Odegaard has improved so much this season
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Schwarzer talked about how impressed he’s been with the attacking playmaker.
“Odegaard has stepped up,” Schwarzer said.
For a young player to step up and to be a captain and lead, and not just be the captain and be the leader but also show it and back it up by his performances on the park.”
The £30m midfielder looks to be worth every penny of the fee Arsenal paid Real Madrid.
Odegaard impressed enough on his six-month loan to earn a permanent move.
Despite being only 23 years old, Odegaard already has plenty of experience.
He’s already earned nearly 50 international caps and wears the armband for Norway too.
Odegaard has admitted that he thinks his defending has improved this season.
He’s also shown his leadership qualities on the pitch, having been seen shouting at Ben White to get into position.
Arsenal fans will be pleased with Odegaard’s development this season, and he’ll have a well-earned rest during the World Cup.
