Arsenal: Martin Odegaard primed for Leeds full debut

Signing Martin Odegaard on a season-long loan from Real Madrid was a shrewd piece of business from Arsenal. Scouring across the continent to find someone matching the desired requirements, there were precious few low-risk options to choose from better than the Norwegian. Now it’s time for him to make his first start against Leeds.

All of the above comes with the caveat of not seeing him in practice: 25 minutes at the end of the Aston Villa defeat is all supporters have been treated to. That cameo still provided a healthy indication of what he can bring to Arsenal, the like only Emile Smith Rowe can offer.

The question first of all is: why did Arsenal sign Martin Odegaard? Smith Rowe’s influence and impression stressed the need for a creative No. 10 in the side, a mantle he can’t be expected to bear all on his own.

Since making his first appearance of the season on Boxing Day, he’s started all nine matches since that 3-1 win over Chelsea. The result has been vastly improved attacking displays that have brought the better qualities out of his fellow teammates, as well as obvious fatigue.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1360283526688481280

Martin Odgeaard is ready to make his first start for Arsenal in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Leeds

Smith Rowe will never drop his industry levels. Instigating the press and instructing others to follow suit, even on his last legs he’ll harass the opponent until his studs wear off. That hasn’t meant his tiredness has gone unnoticed, though.

Against Wolves he would surely have been the early substitution were it not for Bernd Leno’s moment of madness, and as the game wore on at Villa Park and he switched out to the right wing, he was blowing.

Odegaard was brought in to offer him that cover. He was also acquired to add competition, but primarily to lessen the strain of a congested fixture schedule on a player with only a handful of Premier League outings to his name.

A trip to Rome awaits four days after Leeds head to the Emirates, and while there has been an eight-day resting period for Smith Rowe since the previous fixture, Thomas Partey is a prime example of how adequate recovery is essential this season.