Arsenal fans have simple Player of the Month decision

Over the summer when new players are signed there is always an additional buzz about them. Given Arsenal brought in six new faces before the season began, that excitement was shared.

Then the first month of the campaign passes, the club put out their vote for Player of the Month, and almost always the recipient of the award is one of the new boys. Gabriel, for example, won it in September, October and December in the 2020/21 season.

For the current campaign, someone who wasn’t in the reckoning for the monthly gong was Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian started his permanent Arsenal career slowly, even, which now seems remarkable and almost entirely forgotten about, losing his place in the No. 10 slot to Alexandre Lacazette.

Looking at the situation now, how insane is it that the 30-year-old was playing ahead of him in a position that isn’t his preferred one? Whether 4-4-2 or not, it is still incredible to ponder considering how exceptional he’s been of late.

Arsenal fans have simple Player of the Month decision with Martin Odegaard the runaway leader for the vote after outstanding February

But it took time. Takehiro Tomiyasu clinched September’s award, with Aaron Ramsdale taking the next two followed by Gabriel Martinelli’s back-to-back prizes in December and January.

Now the fans have four more names to vote for in February, and it might be the easiest decision to make all campaign. Gabriel, Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Odegaard are up for the POTM, but it can only be Odegaard this time around.

In truth, he deserved December’s award, too.

It would also appear that supporters concur with Odegaard – at the time of writing – boasting just shy of 70% of the entire vote. Partey, quite rightly, is in second having enjoyed his own fine month of performances, including a defensive transition delight at Molineux, controlled dominance over Brentford, and an all-round masterclass over Wolves at the Emirates.

While these votes mean nothing, it is reassuring to see fans waking up to the ability the No. 8 has. It’s talent that hasn’t burst out of the seams every week he’s donned red and white, but it’s now front and centre of every game.

There has also been an increase in decibels for the 23-year-old to be handed the captain’s armband in the summer. Kieran Tierney remains many peoples’ first choice – quite possibly the manager’s, too – but on his current trajectory of tactical and technical leadership, Odegaard is firmly in the running.

If he keeps up this form he’ll win over POTM award for the rest of the season. Easily.