Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Martin Odegaard, with Real Madrid slowly warming up to the idea of selling their midfielder this summer transfer window.
The Gunners have started the new season in the worst possible manner, losing to newly-promoted Brentford 2-0 in west London on Friday. They were soundly beaten by the Bees, suggesting a long campaign ahead for Mikel Arteta’s side. With games against Chelsea and Manchester City to follow before the first international break, Arteta already finds himself under real pressure.
The north London giants have been in the hunt for a creative midfielder all through the summer transfer window. Now, according to Goal, Arsenal want to land Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard, who is valued at around €40 million.
Martin Odegaard, 22, signed for Real Madrid from Norwegian club Stromsgodset as a 16-year-old kid back in 2015, but has only managed 11 first-team appearances for the LaLiga club amid a host of loan spells. The Norwegian international enjoyed an impressive six-month loan spell with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the second half of last season.
He scored a goal and supplied two assists in 14 Premier League games, especially catching the eye in the games against Arsenal’s London rivals—Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Now back at Real Madrid, however, Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave Martin Odegaard out of his first LaLiga squad for the new campaign, with the Spanish club keen to offload him.
Martin Odegaard to Arsenal—Should the Gunners splash the cash to sign him?
Following the addition of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht and with Granit Xhaka’s move to AS Roma collapsing, Mikel Arteta must focus on solving the team’s creativity problems before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.
Emile Smith Rowe was one of the very few bright sparks in Arsenal’s drab 2-0 defeat to Brentford. However, the Gunners cannot expect the young Smith Rowe to deliver week in, week out and definitely needs help. And given the lack of clear cut alternatives, Martin Odegaard would be ideal for Arteta’s side, especially given the familiarity.
Martin Odegaard had brought on board the injection of creativity and energy to Arsenal’s play in the second half of last season and there’s no reason as to why he cannot replicate those performances in the Premier League again. The 22-year-old is a gifted technician on the ball and can cause all kinds of problems to the opponent’s defence with his incisive passing, clever movement and sudden burst of pace.
The Norwegian can spot a pass in the final third, link play well and time his runs to perfection in the box to pop up with important goals, as demonstrated by his performances in an Arsenal shirt last term. Odegaard will certainly add more potency and craft to Arsenal’s attack and while positionally he will be challenging Smith Rowe for a spot in Arteta’s starting XI, the manager will surely devise a game plan to accommodate the both of them.
The Norwegian international would fit well in Arteta’s team, and for a rumoured €40 million, he could turn out to be a brilliant long-term signing for the Gunners.
