Paul Merson has written in The Daily Star that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should not have signed Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
The former Arsenal star believes that the Gunners should not have brought the Norway international attacking midfielder back to the Emirates Stadium on a permanent contract.
The Sky Sports pundit thinks that the 22-year-old’s presence in the team will hurt 21-year-old attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
Earlier today, Arsenal announced on their official website that they have signed Odegaard.
According to Sky Sports, the Gunners have paid Spanish and European giants Madrid an initial transfer fee of £30 million.
Odegaard spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal from Madrid.
Merson wrote in The Daily Star: “If Odegaard really wanted to be at Arsenal he would have signed at the end of his loan. But he didn’t want to join them. He wanted to go back to Real Madrid.
“In days gone by that would have been it. Arsenal would have said – sorry, you’ve had your chance. Next! He didn’t exactly pull up any trees on loan did he? He only scored two goals!
“I think it’s a mistake. I think it’s another lazy signing. No other Premier League team was going for him.”
The Sky Sports pundit added: “What sort of message does signing Odegaard send to Emile Smith Rowe? I can see why he held out signing a new contract. When Odegaard came on loan he ended up playing out on the wing.
“But Emile Smith Rowe is a No 10. He’s the future at Arsenal. He came through the ranks and he makes things happen. He is the one who is going to suffer most from them buying Odegaard.”
Mistake from Arsenal?
Smith Rowe and Odegaard are attacking midfielders, and Arsenal need(ed) them both.
Yes, Arteta will have to probably shift Smith Rowe to the left to accommodate Odegaard in a more central role, but the way the attacking players operate these days is very fluid and positions are interchangeable.
Arsenal simply could not have had just Smith Rowe as their only creative attacking midfielder in the squad.
What if the 21-year-old got injured?
It is important for any manager to have at least two strong options for every position.
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