‘Talked some sense into him’: Pundit says £30m Arsenal star only had a top season due to 24 y/o

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Garth Crooks has said that a huge reason why Granit Xhaka has had such an impressive season for Arsenal is due to the presence of Martin Odegaard.

The outspoken pundit made this claim on BBC Sport while picking his Team of the Season and complimenting the Gunners captain and how he kept the £30 million (Sky Sports) man under control.

As Arsenal technician Martin Odegaard made into Garth Crooks’ XI, he also hailed his role in how he dealt with the often-eccentric Granit Xhaka.

Garth Crooks raves about Martin Odegaard and his role in the Granit Xhaka redemption arc

During his time at the Emirates Stadium, the Swiss midfielder has showcased that despite him possessing a lot of quality, he has a tendency to lose his head and get wrapped up in scraps and get sent off.

This has held back Xhaka throughout his time at the Emirates Stadium, with many even demanding him to be sold, including opposition fans.

However, as Garth Crooks was full of praise for the stellar season Martin Odegaard has had, he pinpointed how he has managed to tame Granit Xhaka.

“For so much of this season, Arsenal looked like they were going to make it. The reason they appeared so convincing was due to their captain, Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian playmaker brought a calm sophistication to the Gunners’ performances that the Premier League title suddenly seemed doable”, Crooks initially said.

Garth Crooks went on to highlight how Martin Odegaard managed to keep Granit Xhaka in check, saying, “The Arsenal captain clearly talked some sense into Granit Xhaka, who was no longer wanting to fight everyone and suddenly was looking like a player who was engaged, like the rest of his team-mates, in winning the title.”

“Sadly, for Arsenal, they ran out of steam but not without giving Spurs and Chelsea fans weeks of destroyed weekends and sleepless nights. That must give them a little satisfaction.”

While one that is on the inside can only account for how Martin Odegaard may have ‘talked some sense’ into Granit Xhaka, Garth Crooks is certainly right in saying that the former has proven his abilities as a leader of men.