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Arsenal: Martin Odegaard primed for Leeds full debut

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 30, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 30, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: Emile Smith-Rowe of Arsenal (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

Martin Odegaard Can Assume the Emile Smith Rowe Role

While the 20-year-old is the undisputed first choice for that position, Odegaard is no sudden downgrade.

He arrived with La Liga pedigree and an impressive full season at Real Sociedad behind him, making Marca’s Team of the Season for 2019/20. Barely getting a sniff at Madrid for the current campaign prompted the necessity for a move, and his 25 minutes against Villa offered the first glimpse of what Los Blancos are missing.

Above all of his qualities, his weight of pass stood out. Adding another dimension to advanced central areas due to being left-footed, he continued along Smith Rowe’s path of building triangles either flank. Almost all with delightful delicacy.

He misplaced a total of four passes, of which three were long, making three progressive balls, three into the final third and one into the penalty box. The weight of some of his accurate passes were moreish. Equally, he is capable of the one and two-touch moves Smith Rowe has brought into the side, increasing the speed of attacks inciting pressure on opponents.

Against a Leeds side who will push up as a team and seek to pin Arsenal back, his quickness of thought and ball carrying ability are ideal in easing the grip Marcelo Bielsa’s side will look to wrap around their opponents. Just like Smith Rowe would be tasked with doing, he’s someone who can get the ball out early and look for the runs of either Nicolas Pepe or Bukayo Saka in wide areas.

Not much would need to change given it’s a straight swap. Odegaard’s versatility means he too can link up with the wide players and create overloads and drift across the forward line and, if anything, his range of pass is more refined that Smith Rowe’s, which will be useful when Leeds initiate a pile-on.

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He was brought in to aid with rotation and possibly with an eye on a permanent deal. As far as opportunities for him to showcase his talent, Sunday’s Premier League clash just before a European venture is no better platform.

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