Arsenal and Real Madrid make Martin Odegaard summer transfer decision

Should Arsenal Sign Martin Odegaard?

It’s right to have some reservations. Having only seen a handful of full appearances from Odegaard, and especially after scoring twice in two huge matches, there can be some snap judgements made. It’s hard not to.

Brought in as the Smith Rowe cover, it’s plain to see they’re different profiles. The win over Tottenham showed the opposite ends of their skill sets, as Smith Rowe ran beyond from a left half-space while Odegaard regularly dropped deep in the right channel where he could dictate proceedings. They boast so much in common, just as they don’t.

Odegaard is still adjusting to the way Arsenal play but with each match he progresses. The Sp*rs win was his best performance to date, as it was Smith Rowe’s, so any fears of them stunting each other’s development can be laid to rest. They can work together. They do work together.

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It hasn’t all been perfect for the Norwegian, though. He scored a cracker against Olympiacos but was largely sloppy on the ball for most of that first half, growing into that game just as he has his short Arsenal career to date.

He will only get better.

A delightful first touch that opens up every passing lane he could wish for is followed by a cutely measured weight of distribution. His shooting hasn’t been great – barring the obvious – with a few scuffed efforts in dangerous positions, yet he is making these well-timed late surges into the box that haven’t been seen at the Emirates since Aaron Ramsey.

Throw his superior vision into the mix and calm close control under pressure, and you’e got the inner, and outer, workings of an ideal technical operator.

Are there better options out there? There weren’t any in January and unless you’re willing to pay over the odds, or even capable of it in the first place, no standout candidates spring to mind.

Beyond the talent, however, he’s slotted into the team effortlessly and cuts the figure of a man who is loving his football and surroundings. He wants to stay and Arsenal should do everything within their power to grant him that wish.