Arsenal: Martin Odegaard confirms Real Madrid future

Arsenal can now fully turn their attentions towards looking elsewhere in the summer transfer market for a new attacking midfielder after Martin Odegaard confirmed he is staying at Real Madrid next season.

Some closure, perhaps?

With Mikel Arteta making it abundantly clear that he had hoped to sign Martin Odegaard for another season at least following his loan spell in north London, work was being done to try and bring the Norwegian back to the club in some capacity.

While any deal would either cost the Gunners around £50m or somehow be arranged for another loan move, the likelihood was always going to be that any transfer would be tough to arrange. yet early indications were that Arsenal had hope after pulling out of a move for Emi Buendia after their initial £30m bid was rejected.

Arsenal: Martin Odegaard confirms Real Madrid future as Mikel Arteta looks for playmaker transfer in summer window

Opting not to pursue that move further, there was some belief internally that Arteta’s number one priority could be secured. Confidence among the camp began to fade after Carlo Ancelotti‘s appointment as Los Blancos manager, and the news has finally filtered through from the horses mouth that it is, indeed, game over.

As per TV2 journalist Arilias Ould-Saada, the line has been drawn.

"“Martin Ødegaard confirms to TV 2 Norway that he will play for Real Madrid the coming season. He says they have made it clear that they want him back. He will start pre-season in one and a half week.”"

At least the news has come through relatively early into the window. Arsenal have already been linked with big-money moves for James Maddison as well as minor, and hugely underwhelming, reports of Nabil Fekir, among others, which now means that Edu and co can focus their full attention towards their ‘new’ main target.

Reports are that Maddison is on top of that list, although talk of an £80m asking price, however believable, may put an early end to that pursuit.

If it was possible that Odegaard could have been brought back to the Emirates on an amicable fee, then few supporters would have been disappointed. After all, barring some injury issues his performances were delightful when he hit full flow and his comfort around the team and the Premier League would have ensured there would be no great bedding in period.

That is now forgotten about though, and the club can look elsewhere. All that we can do is thank the 22-year-old for his services, which were on balance pretty darn impressive.