Martin Odegaard thinks Antonio Nusa is an ‘incredibly exciting’ star after a ‘fantastic’ display for Norway, amid Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta scouting the Club Brugge winger.
The Gunners skipper played beside Nusa as Norway beat Georgia in a Euro 2024 qualifier on Tuesday. Stale Solbakken’s squad edged the tie 2-1 to cement their place in third in Group A. But they trail leaders Scotland by eight points and Spain, who have a fixture in hand, by two.
Nusa assisted Erling Haaland and Odegaard for Norway’s goals against Georgia, who played Napoli sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Haaland headed home to break the deadlock in the 25th minute. Nusa found Odegaard in the 33rd for the Arsenal star’s third international goal.
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Nusa continues to dazzle beside Odegaard with Norway
Solbakken only gave Nusa his debut for Norway’s senior side in a friendly against Jordan last Thursday. Yet the 18-year-old wonder rose to the occasion with a goal and an assist. He hit the back of the net 11 minutes into the fixture to break the deadlock at the Ullevaal Stadion.
Goals were never all that regular at the junior level for Nusa, who earned caps for Norway’s Under-16, 17, 18, 19 and 21 teams. But he is showing promising attacking potential and has four goals plus three assists in 46 outings for Club Brugge since joining them in August 2021.
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Arsenal are scouting Nusa in action for Club Brugge
The Stabaek IF product’s efforts have also now attracted interest from Premier League sides. 90min reports that Arsenal have scouted Nusa over recent weeks at Club Brugge before the 5 ft 10 gem captivated Odegaard with Norway. But the Gunners are not alone in the stands.
Liverpool and Newcastle United have also sent their scouts over to the Jan Breydel Stadium to judge the left-winger. While Chelsea even bid £26m for Nusa this summer but they made it too late. Club Brugge and Nusa agreed he would not leave in the last week of the window.
What has Odegaard said about the teenage winger?
Odegaard has now given Arsenal his own scouting report on Nusa after the Club Brugge and Norway gem dazzled against Georgia, too. The forward captivated the Gunners’ skipper with his creativity in the Euro 2024 qualifier. Odegaard was excited whenever Nusa had the ball.
“Fantastic! He is an incredibly exciting player,” Odegaard told TV2, via the Mirror. “You see it every time he gets the ball, it’s exciting. He is still young and will get even better. It was cool to see him. He deserved to get the chance that he takes to such an extent. Incredibly cool.”