Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised in-form midfielder Martin Odegaard ahead of the Gunners’ clash with Leeds United [Arsenal.com]
Arteta’s side are taking on the Whites at Elland Road on Saturday following a confidence-boosting midweek win over West Ham.
Martin Odegaard is flying
Odegaard didn’t find the net against the Hammers but he did score in the Gunners’ previous three matches against Southampton, Everton and Man United, so he’s full of confidence.
After being asked about the Norway international during Friday’s pre-match press conference, the manager had a lot of good things to say about his recent displays and his potential.
Arteta bigs up Arsenal star ahead of Leeds clash
“He’s very, very young but he’s already had a lot of experience in different clubs, in international football,” the manager said, as quoted by Arsenal.com.
“I agree that in the last few weeks he’s getting very close to his best level.
“The ceiling for him, I don’t know where it is, with the talent that he has, the desire that he has, how much he wants to always improve and get better. We’ve got a tremendous player there.”
Odegaard has, of course, been very highly rated from a young age.
He shone at Real Sociedad during the 2019/20 season but Zinedine Zidane did him a disservice by recalling him early to Real Madrid only to use him sporadically the following campaign.
Now that he’s playing regularly and looks to be settled after making his move to North London permanent in the summer, though, he’s really beginning to thrive.
Arteta knows a top midfielder when he sees one and these comments are very exciting for Arsenal fans.
Odegaard is already quite something, but it seems his manager thinks there’s much more to come.
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