Glenn Hoddle claims ‘pretty average’ Arsenal duo have now transformed under Arteta

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Glenn Hoddle has claimed that when Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey first arrived at Arsenal they looked ‘pretty average’, as he told Premier League Productions (13/03/22 at 6:25 pm).

But the former England man now thinks that the two midfielders are ‘playing at their very best’ for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.

The north London club are flying high in the Premier League and their midfield is one of the areas that is thriving the most.

When Arteta can afford to bring Emile Smith Rowe off from the bench – their top-scorer this season – then they know things are going very well for them.

Despite not being impressed by the men in Arsenal’s midfield when they first joined, Hoddle now feels that they have been transformed.

“Those two looked pretty average when they first arrived at Arsenal,” said Hoddle. “They looked alright, not too bad.

“Now, they have their feet under the table and they are playing at their very best.

“The balance between the two players, in midfield, is perfect for me. Whoever goes in there and plays with them, at this moment in time, it’s Xhaka, it could be anybody else.

“Those two have got a lovely balance. I think Partey is screening now. He knows his job. He was trying to do everything when he first arrived. He wanted to be a goalscorer and get in the box. Get back and defend as well.

“Odegaard can now go and hurt other teams. I look at him now. He can’t wait for the next game. He is saying ‘give me the ball’. When you have a player like that, then you are going to hurt teams.”

Whilst Odegaard’s numbers may not be hitting the roof, one thing is for sure, the magic he is producing out on the pitch is proof that you shouldn’t be judged by that.

That fresh-faced teenager that broke onto the scene as young as 15 is now showcasing why there was so much hype about him as a young gun.

In truth, at the age of 23, he is still young, but given how long he has been around, it seems as though he is one of the more experienced ones.

The manner in which he moves the ball, glides into pockets, connects play with everyone around him, the sharpness and precision to his five-yard passing, is quite incredible.

But someone like Arteta and his coaching staff deserve credit as well because, from his initial loan spell from Real Madrid, there is no doubt that Odegaard has taken his game to the next level.