Darren Bent believes Martin Odegaard is currently the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League, ranking the Arsenal captain ahead of James Maddison, Bruno Fernandes and Kevin de Bruyne in conversation with talkSPORT (14 March, 5pm).
Pep Guardiola had some words of criticism for his usually-brilliant Belgian ahead of this week’s Champions League meeting with RB Leipzig; urging De Bruyne to start doing the ‘simple things’ again.
Mikel Arteta, in contrast, has no reason to complain about his own fair-haired string-puller. At the age of just 24, Odegaard could soon become the first Arsenal captain since the legendary Patrick Vieira to hold the Premier League trophy aloft in North London.
And, while insisting that De Bruyne would always command a place in his all-time XI, the Gunners-mad Bent would not swap Odegaard for anyone in the division right now.
Is Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard the best in the Premier League?
“He would be in my all-time Premier League XI. My (midfield) three is Vieira, De Bruyne and (Steven) Gerrard,” says the former England international. “He still works incredibly hard. He’s got fantastic ability.”
Bent believes that De Bruyne would benefit from adding more variation to his game again, arguing that one of the Premier League’s most prolific assist creators has become that little bit more predictable since Erling Haaland’s arrival.
“His first thought is; ‘Where is Haaland? How can I pick him out’,” adds the ex-Tottenham, Aston Villa and Sunderland striker.
“Every player in the Premier League has a little dip. Every single player has a dip. For me, De Bruyne is one of the very, very best we’ve seen.
“(Odegaard) is in better form. This is not a lifetime achievement award, this is right now, this is currently. I am going on since the World Cup; Odegaard, in that number ten role, has been the best in the league.
“Maddison has been good because he’s so in and out (due to injury). He is phenomenal but you look at Odegaard at Arsenal…
“Bruno, good player but a little but inconsistent. You look at how many times he gives the ball away. (Joao) Felix is a good player but it’s not Odegaard.”
Odegaard, in just 26 Premier League games, has 10 goals and seven assists this season.
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