Martin Odegaard has been excellent for Arsenal since signing in the 2021 summer transfer window. His impressive displays have been epitomised by the fact that he created the most chances in the league last season since November of that campaign, despite doubts over his signing as a previous loan spell at the club posed the question by critics to spend £35m on the midfielder.
But, it is not just Odegaard’s creativity that has gone to make him an untouchable player in Arteta’s starting XI, as it is also his off-the-ball work and his ability to lead the team's press that makes him so important. This has been proven with statistics that make him incomparable to other creative midfielders in Europe.
The fact that the Norwegian has already become the club captain at the age of 23 after only spending a year and a half in north London shows the faith that Arteta has in the midfielder. This is further backed up by the defensive responsibility Odegaard has off the ball, with the skipper successfully responding.
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The Norwegian’s impact when not in possession off the ball is a major reason why the £35m that Edu paid to Real Madrid in 2021 is a bargain. Odegaard currently leads in Europe’s top five leagues for possessions won in the final third.
The Arsenal midfielder has won the ball back 11 times in the Premier League so far this campaign. Joe Aribo, Jack Harrison, Adrian Thomasson, and Jonathan Bamba all trail Odegaard by having won back possession of the ball on 10 occasions.
The fact that Odegaard is the only player whose main objective is to create from an attacking midfield position highlights why he is such a unique player for the Gunners. He fits Arteta’s system perfectly while on the ball, and off the ball, as Arsenal looks to regain possession as soon as the opposition attempt to build up an attack.
Not only has his performance been exemplary from a creative point of view, but it is also his ability to lead the team. In interviews, he has also sung the praises of Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal dressing room which highlights that he is completely on board.
Speaking about the dressing room atmosphere at Real Madrid to Norwegian outlet TV2 (via AS), Odegaard said: “It is not easy to integrate into the core of the locker room.” However, when asked about Arsenal he said: "I think it's like that in the bigger clubs. Everything becomes a little more dispersed. I'm very happy where I am now at Arsenal, which has a very nice dressing room."
The Norwegian international has shown why his unique style of play is pivotal to Arsenal in the early weeks of the season. The Arsenal skipper is the first name on Arteta’s teamsheet and his off-the-ball success highlights why this is the case.
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