Mark Lawrenson has claimed that Arsenal midfielder, Martin Odegaard, is a ‘top, top player’, as he told Football Focus.
The TV pundit added that Odegaard could be sold by Arsenal, as he praised the 23-year-old for how he has dealt with pressure.
As a fresh-faced teenager, Odegaard was dubbed as a wonderkid and someone who, even at the age of 15, was tipped to go to the top.
That’s why he ended up at one of the biggest clubs in the world at Real Madrid, with that road then leading him to the Emirates Stadium in north London.
Lawrenson praised the playmaker for ‘getting through’ all of that and becoming the ‘top player’ he is today.
“The great thing about him, was it at 16, he went to Madrid?” said Lawrenson. “The problem is all the lazy journalists are saying ‘he’s going to be a wonderkid’ and all that kind of stuff. And he has got through all of that.
“Also the fact that he has had so many loans. As he said, he has learnt something from everywhere he has gone.
“Plus, he is only 22 (23). He is already a top, top player. They might even sell him on, might’n they, Arsenal?!”
Odegaard is a prime example of someone who might not be reeling off the goals and assists every week, but he is still one of Arsenal’s best players.
In today’s modern game, it’s heavily stats-based and attacking players are judged quite a lot on their goals and assists.
But, Odegaard is someone who is easy on the eye and a player who keeps Arsenal’s attacking engine room running.
There’s a big reason why he has played a central attacking role ahead of Emile Smith Rowe, even though the Hale-End star has more goals in his locker than the Norway captain.
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