The summer window saw Arsenal improve the squad with six signings but several weeks in and one player was falling behind the rest in terms of output.
Martin Odegaard has seen a major turnaround in his contribution to the Arsenal team since then. A player widely criticised in the opening weeks of the season after his arrival has quickly changed the majority of his critics’ minds.
Nominated for the player of the month in December scoring three goals and assisting a further three more, Odegaard has become an undroppable player at present and has even forced Emile Smith-Rowe onto the substitutes bench. However, for those with remaining doubts, do not take the ramblings of a fan, take a look at the startling facts that predicted this outcome.
The below graphic shows players in the u21 age bracket in May 2019 that foretold the impact that Odegaard would have creatively on his team.
Cross-referencing expected goals and expected assist metrics, Odegaard completely annihilated the competition.
Even some of the most widely regarded assisters such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jadon Sancho were significantly behind the Norwegian.
Whilst Kylian Mbappe led the way in xG, he had an xA less than half of Odegaard’s.
Considering the season after for 2019/20, Odegaard would link up with Alexander Isak at Real Sociedad and the pair would form a solid partnership, the potential to rekindle that same duo is becoming a possibility at Arsenal.
Arsenal’s attempts to sign Dusan Vlahovic continue to falter and therefore the club has begun to keep an eye on other potential options.
The Athletic report that Isak is one of those very players. His height, technical skill, age profile, link-up play and goalscoring record are all attractive to the team.
Despite a slower goalscoring start to the season, Isak remains one of the continents most highly appreciated young strikers.
Attempting to envisage what the Swedish international would be capable of with Odegaard supporting him again and flanked by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith-Rowe is an exciting thought.
The Arsenal Way dove into Odegaard and Isak’s partnership at Sociedad to see how it could take shape at Arsenal.
The pair were excellent at quick passing combos with one another before playing a through ball to carve opposition defences open.
Combinations that would have been very welcome in yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Burnley as Arsenal resorted to simply crossing balls into the box.
The option is there for Arsenal to reunite the two with Isak having a ~£75m release clause. However, when it is considered that it could earn Arsenal a place in the Champions League next season, it is a risk well worth taking.
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