Stephen Warnock has stated that whilst ‘everyone talks about Bukayo Saka’ at Arsenal, it’s actually Martin Odegaard who is the ‘brains’ of the team, as he told the Football Show on Sky Sports.
The former Premier League left-back lauded Odegaard as an ‘exciting’ player in Arsenal’s ranks and someone who is the ‘focal point’ of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Signed up from Real Madrid, on an initial loan deal, those in north London made the playmaker’s move permanent in the summer.
The 23-year-old was patchy during his first spell in Arsenal colours, but during this campaign, he has taken his game to the next level.
Nonetheless, despite coming with big pressures on his shoulders because he was signed up from Real Madrid, Warnock has been left wowed by what Odegaard has brought to the table.
“You talk about buying sensibly,” said Warnock. “Now, £30 million was he, in and around that price from Real Madrid? You look at that and think of someone of that quality.
“He comes from Real Madrid and comes with a reputation of being an up and coming player. An exciting player. But that’s a pressure then. You have to then go out and perform.
“He almost seems like the focal point in the team. Everyone talks about Saka. But he’s the one that makes them tick. He is the one that finds Saka in behind. Hitting into feet. Picking out threaded passes.
“Odegaard is the brains in the team. He is outstanding.”
Whilst Odegaard is making the ball talk in serious ways out on the pitch, he may well be doing it off the pitch also.
Arsenal’s stand-in captain is Alexandre Lacazette – he was handed the armband when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the role in December.
But, as things stand, Lacazette will leave at the end of the season, which opens the door for someone to become captain for the long term.
Odegaard has taken such reigns for his country and the Norway international might just do the same at club level as well because he is certainly a contender.
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