Kevin Campbell has expressed that he is ‘surprised’ that Arsenal fans aren’t yet convinced by Martin Odegaard, as he told the Highbury Squad.
The former striker thinks Odegaard is a ‘key’ player within Mikel Arteta’s squad and ‘the kid is mustard’.
Odegaard initially joined Arsenal on-loan from Real Madrid last season, before making his move to the Emirates permanent in the summer.
With Emile Smith Rowe also banging on Arsenal’s door, alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, it does make those attacking places hard to come by.
But Odegaard has been a regular under Arteta, and whilst the Norway captain divides opinion, Campbell made his feelings about the player pretty clear.
“I don’t think he is our most important player,” said Campbell. “I think we recognised his quality from before.
“A lot of people are still on the fence with Odegaard. I am surprised at it. But it’s Arsenal, isn’t it?! Some fans want him to score 15 goals and create 20 chances before they are convinced. That’s the way it goes.
“I think he is a key part of our squad and team. But, truly, if he wasn’t picked against Wolves, then that would mean Smith Rowe playing in the number ten role.
“I think this kid is mustard. We won’t see the best of Odegaard until we get that striker.”
Arsenal haven’t had a regular goalscorer doing the business up top for a long while now.
And that doesn’t help the cause of someone like Odegaard, who is very efficient in building up play and dictating the tempo of the game for his side.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the door, both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah’s contracts running out, a big summer awaits Arteta.
He may not need just one or two strikers, but perhaps three, especially if Lacazette and Nketiah don’t sign new contracts.
And whoever walks through the club’s doors will have a big part to play in also taking the game of someone like Odegaard to the next level.
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