Speaking to Astro SuperSport, former Arsenal star Alan Smith has sent a warning to Arsenal fans over the imminent arrival of Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian international is reportedly in London and is set to undergo a medical today. (Goal) Odegaard has raised the excitement levels among Arsenal fans and many feel he is the answer to our creativity issues.
However, Smith has his doubts over the Real Madrid star. He claims that Odegaard will not walk into Arsenal’s starting XI and has compared his signing to that of Denis Suarez in 2019.
He said: “To have another option perhaps. I don’t think he walks into the team by any stretch. You think back to Denis Suarez. He came to the club and physically he just wasn’t ready. In the end, it was embarrassing.”
“I wouldn’t expect him to start many games, somebody who will just dip in and out perhaps. Ceballos has done well during his time at the Emirates I think so hopefully Odegaard could come and with a point to prove, add something to what they’ve got.”
Denis Suarez’s Arsenal loan spell was a disaster
Unai Emery signed his compatriot from Barcelona on a season-long loan deal. Suarez is a quality player in his own right but injuries and the physicality of the Premier League took its toll on him.
The Spaniard played just 95 minutes for us in all competitions. As harsh as it is on him, he was one of Emery’s worst signings, but Odegaard is a very different player to Suarez.
The Real Madrid man is coming in fit and raring to go – unlike Suarez when he arrived. Odegaard, like every foreign player – might need time to settle in, but his style of play is more accustomed to the Premier League than the Barcelona man was.
That, however, doesn’t mean that Odegaard will be a huge hit. He might well struggle to adapt in the coming months, but let’s hope that isn’t the case and he hits the ground running with a brilliant display against Manchester United this weekend.
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