Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been tipped as the fifth best midfielder in the Premier League ahead of some star players.
Odegaard has enjoyed a stellar start to the new season after being handed the club captaincy by Mikel Arteta at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. The Norwegian playmaker has scored three goals in seven appearances so far this season, playing a key role in the Gunners' attack alongside Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.
Odegaard has spoken on his budding relationship with summer signing Jesus that has helped the Gunners head into the international break top of the Premier League above Manchester City and Tottenham. football.london understands the 23-year-old is set to be fit for the north London derby at the start of October after suffering with a calf problem in recent weeks.
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Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson thinks Odegaard has taken his former side to ‘another level’ and he is the fifth best midfielder in the Premier League today. Merson told Sportskeeda: “At the moment, I’ll put Martin Odegaard at number five because he’s taken Arsenal to another level this season.
“He’s got a swagger about the way he plays and moves, while he’s also added goals to his game. Odegaard has been around for a while, so it’s easy to forget he’s only 23. The fact that he’s Arsenal’s captain at such a young age shows how highly Mikel Arteta rates him."
Merson continued by claiming Odegaard ranks above the likes of Manchester United superstar Bruno Fernandes, Chelsea's Mason Mount and Manchester City talent Phil Foden on current form. "I like Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Phil Foden and the likes, but Odegaard is someone who has already made a massive impact this season," Merson added.
“He plays in a position where he has to make things happen and he’s done just that as Arsenal find themselves at the top of the Premier League table with 18 points from seven games. Foden is an unreal talent too, but if he doesn’t play for Manchester City, they’ve got the likes of Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez to deputize for him.”
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