Matthew Upson backs £30m Arsenal player to explode this season as Declan Rice claim made

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BBC Sport pundit Matthew Upson has backed one of Arsenal’s key players to explode this season after a difficult campaign last term.

Arsenal had to settle for second place once again last season, with a mixture of injuries, suspensions and inconsistency costing the team at key moments.

However, Arsenal have strengthened their ranks over the summer, finally bringing in a new No. 9 in Viktor Gyokeres along with a top midfielder in Martin Zubimendi.

Upson has now reviewed the current state of Arsenal’s team, singling out the players he thinks will play a big part over the course of the campaign.

Matthew Upson backs Martin Odegaard to ‘have the bit between his teeth’

Upson was one of the BBC Sport pundits who previewed the new Premier League season and made their predictions.

The former Arsenal man backed Martin Odegaard to “have the bit between his teeth” this season after last season’s issues.

Upson also hailed the “exceptional” young Arsenal trio of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, along with Declan Rice and Gyokeres.

“As well as the new striker, the young players Arteta has brought into the team are exceptional,” said Upson.

“Teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have got a full Premier League season under their belts and 15-year-old Max Dowman looks a special talent.

“With the senior players, Declan Rice is getting better and better and I am expecting Martin Odegaard to have the bit between his teeth because he had a drop-off in form last season where he could not find his rhythm after his injury.

“He was operating as a six or seven out of 10 and if he gets back to his usual level of eight or nine, that really impacts the team.

“Then they have a pacy, physical and direct centre-forward in Gyokeres to get on the end of any chances they create.”

Upson also backed Arsenal to win the Premier League title ahead of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.

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Martin Odegaard will be eager to silence his doubters

It’s good to see Upson have faith in Odegaard, considering other pundits have been doubting the £30million man.

For instance, Tony Adams thinks Declan Rice should be appointed Arsenal captain, with Odegaard instead taking a back seat.

Gabriel Agbonlahor agreed that Odegaard should lose the captaincy and also claimed Ethan Nwaneri could replace Odegaard in the XI.

It’s not as though Odegaard was poor all across the board though – despite his disappointing form in front of goal last season, he was a top performer in other areas.

Nevertheless, the Norway international will be eager to silence his doubters this season – and we all know he has what it takes to do so.