Journalist Charles Watts has now heaped praise on Arsenal star Martin Odegaard.
Martin Odegaard was in sensational form as Arsenal smashed West Ham United 6-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal set a new club-record with this win at the London Stadium, as never before had they triumphed away from home in a Premier League match by such a huge margin. Odegaard played a huge part in making this victory, and the scale of it, possible. As he so often is, the club captain was at the heart of almost everything that the Gunners did well.
The Norwegian playmaker registered two assists in the match, setting up Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard to score. Over the course of the game, the 25-year-old completed seven key passes, far more than any player on the pitch. In this match, Odegaard became the first player in any of the major European leagues this season to take his tally of chances created to beyond 50.
Despite this monumental performance, there is still an argument that the former Real Madrid man has not received his share of the spotlight. Quite rightly, Saka was lauded for his performance in east London, as he bagged a brace. Equally understandably, Arsenal fans were quick to praise Declan Rice for the damage he did to his former club, as he contributed two goals and an assist himself.
Why Martin Odegaard is so important to Arsenal
As far as Charles Watts is concerned, though, not enough has been made of Odegaard’s influence. Speaking on his Inside Arsenal YouTube channel, the reporter said, “he was so good yesterday…when you give Martin Odegaard space, he will just rip anyone apart. I think a lot of people underestimate Martin Odegaard, and I think he’s still – it’s a mad thing to say – but I do think he’s underrated still.”
“He’s been very unlucky this year, he could easily be sitting on 12, 13, 14 assists this season. It’s not his fault that the chances haven’t been put away, because he has created so, so many…He’s just world-class…I do think people underestimate, and under-appreciate a little bit, just how good Martin Odegaard is.”
So far this season, Odegaard has racked up six assists. Considering how many high quality chances he has created for his teammates, he is extremely unfortunate not have recorded a far higher tally in this category by now. There is no greater measure of just how wasteful in front of goal the Gunners have been at times this season than Odegaard’s disproportionate lack of assists.
Odegaard brings more to this team that just being a creative hub, though. He has an eye for goal, and Mikel Arteta will particularly value the work that the Norway international does off the ball. Odegaard leads the Arsenal press, dragging his teammates up the pitch with him to pressurise opponents. The value that Odegaard brings as a tactical leader, as much as a technician on the ball, should not be under-appreciated.
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