Arsenal: 5 positives and negatives of Martin Odegaard transfer

The summer transfer window has managed to come full circle. Initially being linked with Martin Odegaard, who was widely touted as the number one target, rumours have surfaced with every other creative midfielder on the planet and since returned to the Norwegian.

It’s almost as if we could have forgotten about the previous five weeks of the window.

Among the most crucial transfers of the entire window, more so than at either full-back, is securing someone to share the creative burden with Emile Smith Rowe.

There is no better evidence of this than the opening 14 matches of the Premier League season. Without a recoginsed No. 10 in the side Arsenal were lost as an attacking force, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was starved of service and the dreaded horseshoe passing lanes made for excruciating viewing.

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Arsenal: 5 positives and negatives of Martin Odegaard transfer as Mikel Arteta eyes Real Madrid midfielder signing in summer window

Even when Smith Rowe entered the fold the need for someone else to shoulder the responsibility was clear. Just 20 years old, with a worrying injury record and entirely inexperienced in the division, what he achieved during those 33 domestic and European outings was beyond expectations. The hype surrounding him proved to be more than justified.

It didn’t prevent the need for another body coming in during the January transfer window. With gut-wrenching links to Isco and Christian Eriksen, Odegaard’s arrival on loan proved to be a masterstroke.

Real Madrid alumni off the back of a superb 2019/20 campaign joining Arsenal for six months was near enough the best feasible deal the club could have pulled off after failing to solve the issue before the start of the season.

Some question the ‘success’ of his spell in north London while others have waxed lyrical over some of his most stirring performances. With talk intensifying of the Norwegian eyeing a move back to Arsenal and his former employers still holding a strong interest in him, is it the right move? Starting with the good, here are five positives and negatives.

1. Arsenal Can Bide Their Time

‘Bide their time? Hell no! We need players and we need them now!’

Partially, yes. But in this case not as much. Arsenal will play three Premier League matches before the summer transfer window closes: Brentford away, Chelsea at home and Manchester City away.

Fit and firing, there is no reason for Smith Rowe not to be playing every minute of those games. For him, like so many others, it’s a 38-game season with the possibility of extending that depending on how cup runs play out. Pepe is also looking sharp and Gabriel Martinelli may have returned.

Real Madrid need money and with their starting lineup with a midfield trio of Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos supplemented by Fede Valverde and Isco, who shone under Ancelotti, their need for Odegaard becomes less noteworthy. They can let him go and there is even talk of Dani Ceballos being handed a chance in his stead (really). You’d think there is space for him, but seemingly not.

What they also need is money. If Arsenal turn around and bid £30m or so in the latter stages of the window they aren’t in a position to be haggling. If their valuation is met there is a deal to be struck.

As for timing, Odegaard knows Arsenal, Arteta and his teammates. While it would obviously be more beneficial for him to come in sooner, none of the No. 10 options on the market would require less time to integrate than the 22-year-old.

One of the most notable aspects of his initial arrival was how quickly he adapted to his surroundings. Now fit and not carrying a knock, that transition would be more seamless.

While there is always risk involved in waiting too late, it means Arsenal can put more focus on securing the vital new central midfielder.

2. Martin Odegaard is Cheaper Than James Maddison

The main sticking point with any potential James Maddison deal is that he will be costing £60m or more. Arsenal could find ways to lower that figure with the inclusion of Ainsley Maitland-Niles or Reiss Nelson, but it depends on Leicester’s desires.

With a rumoured valuation of £34m, Odegaard would come in at nearly half of Maddison’s price. Sell Nelson and Maitland-Niles and you might just make up for that amount entirely.

And cost is important even if we’re not privy to how much the club has to spend this summer. Securing a No. 10 is crucial to the summer plans but a certified starter in midfield to partner Thomas Partey is arguably more important.

This is a position that Arsenal can’t skimp on.

Whoever comes in needs to hit the ground running and be ready to slot into Premier League football immediately. A daunting opening few matches of the season await and seeing Mohamed Elneny line up to host Chelsea on matchday two won’t instill a great deal of belief into the home crowd.

If said player can be obtained more easily with the money hypothetically saved on Odegaard (if Maddison isn’t bought) then it strengthens the case for the Norwegian. You’re not getting £30m less of a player. Not even close.

3. Martin Odegaard is An Excellent Footballer Yet to Peak

Amid all the talk of other players coming in which has contributed to Odegaard being seen in a dimmer light than previously – the same happened with Houssem Aouar after the hype died down – it’s easy to overlook how talented he is.

He wasn’t on top form all throughout his spell last season as there were games he was guilty of being lost in, but this was a poor Arsenal side. That mustn’t be forgotten, and he still created the most chances per 90.

There were also the injuries. He arrived with an issue that he hadn’t fully recovered from, and having barely played at all up until his signing was also not at match fitness. Then there was an ankle injury sustained in March that ruled him out for four matches.

And despite that, as well as the new league, style of play and teammates, he still managed to produce some superb displays, only ending up on the losing side in two matches he started: against Man City and Villarreal. He’s also only 22 years old.

Odegaard embodies many of the traits desired in what would be classically categorised as an ‘Arsenal player’. Silky and suave with array of unique resources, his weight of pass is as delectable as it is unapologetically natural. He brought others into the game and forged strong partnerships with Smith Rowe and notably Calum Chambers, who played his best football with the Norwegian in the side.

What he’s shown in his time at Arsenal is tactical awareness and operative intelligence. This is a player who understands the rhythm of football. Odegaard, like Smith Rowe, was one of the few to fully appreciate the economy of touches: when to release and when the hold. Furthermore, there aren’t many players in the squad who can find the pass needed against low blocks to unlock defences. Odegaard has that in his locker.

And he’s still only 22 years old. Sign him this month and Arsenal are getting immediate impact from someone who is fully fit, who can improve and if he is to be moved on in the future, will see a return on the investment financially. We haven’t even mentioned his leadership qualities; it’s clear he enjoys being at the club.

There is more to come, but what about the potential negatives?

4. Potential Crossover with Bukayo Saka

As seen last season, Odegaard thrives as the No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 who can drop into the right half-space. It’s where he’s most comfortable and threatening.

It’s also the similar areas to where Bukayo Saka (and Nicolas Pepe) like to operate in.

With Smith Rowe in the No. 10 there are no issues of walking over other people’s toes, unless Willian plays, in which case it’s inevitable; showing for the ball constantly ensures he’s never fixated to one zone on the pitch. He has no preference for space.

Odegaard loves that right half-space and with Saka on the right wing there is jeopardy of crossover. While fatigue and being overplayed contributed, following Odegaard’s arrival Saka only scored one more goal, coming in the Europa League against Slavia Prague – a game Odegaard didn’t feature in.

Both Saka and Smith Rowe need to contribute more on the goal front given they will be mainstays in the team next season and bringing someone in who may limit the output of one of them is cause for concern.

Odegaard playing does not, of course, mean Saka will never score again. There is a dynamic in that area of the pitch that is at risk of being overflooded but these are elements that can be worked on in training, of which there is plenty of time for without European football.

5. Can Arsenal Do Better Than Martin Odegaard?

Odegaard is an excellent talent who spent six months in the middle of a COVID-19 struck season, in a new league, with new teammates, with a new style of playing, and with niggling injuries amid a catastrophic Arsenal campaign. There were the occasional dips here and there, but there is clear mitigation.

Can Arsenal do better, though?

There were matches, or at least spells in matches where Odegaard had gone missing. He’s an orchestrator of tempo who yearns for possession of the football, so when Arsenal yield that for lengthy spells he has the tendency to be left fairly purposeless.

High profile fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea saw his lack of defensive output rears its head. Not a strong tackler by any means, he also ranks very unfavourably for blocks, interceptions and duel success. When Arsenal are with their backs against the walls, pace in front of him is where he can excel and drive the team up the pitch, which he can’t do with a mazy dribble or progressive carry. It’s not where he flourishes.

Thus there are limitations to his game that are highlighted depending on the structure and control Arsenal have on a particular match. Equally, keep the ball and try to break down deep defensive lines and there are few others you’d want on the ball.

Are there more well-rounded options on the market? There are so many players of this ilk that Arsenal could pursue.

What it comes down to is the manager’s vision of the team, and it appears he craves an overseer in that No. 10 whose intelligence to read the play and pick the passes that his teammates can complement with their own abilities.

Arsenal need what he brings to the table, yet also maybe a little bit more. While not elite yet, the scope is there for Odegaard to reach that potential. However, some may just prefer it now which can’t easy to say after two eighth place finishes.