West Ham United boss David Moyes has heaped praise on Martin Odegaard's ability between the lines
The Norwegian international has enjoyed an excellent first full season with the club after joining from Real Madrid on a permanent basis last summer. He has netted six Premier League goals, providing a further four assists - less than his hugely impressive 5.9 xA (expected assists).
Now, Hammers manager Moyes has hailed Odegaard's playmaking ability, identifying the talented youngster's tendency to take up promising positions for the north Londoners. Speaking ahead of West Ham's clash against Arsenal, the former Manchester United coach said: "We need to play really well and take our chances when we get them.
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"We’ve played quite well at times at games, not all the time. Obviously, we're juggling with players at the back again, but that happens in football.
"Sometimes you get injuries or suspensions and you have to find other ways, so we have to try to do that. We need to play well. Arsenal are a good team.
"They play in a really good system. The positions Odegaard takes up, he's very difficult to deal with. We’ll need to do a really good job on them."
And former Tottenham Hotspur frontman Jermain Defoe agreed with Moyes, praising the 23-year-old during Sky Sports' coverage of the game: "He picks up clever positions and gets on the ball. It’s important West Ham, being at home, obviously, Mark Noble’s back in the team and Declan Rice is playing, that they nullify his attributes.
"Arsenal know they’ll have to come here and perform."
