Arsenal: 4 most improved players this season

2. Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard’s improvements haven’t just been this season. The player who arrived in north London over a year ago is unrecognisable from the one fans see today. And that’s not because he was poor, far from it, and instead because he’s now operating in another dimension.

When the Norwegian came on loan we did see dashes of his brilliance. The talent was obviously there and he just needed to find a way to harness it in Premier League football.

What stood out as a criticism for him was that he couldn’t impose himself on matches for the full 90 minutes. He would have excellent spells only to drift out of the game, usually when Arsenal relinquished possession for a period of time, and then he couldn’t wrestle his way back in.

Now his footprints are all over every game, and every blade of grass. Apart from the world class level he’s hitting as a creative outlet, the energy and desire he puts into his work rate is second to none. When Arsenal don’t have the ball he’s now the one making the biggest impression.

As for this season, one needn’t cast their mind back too long to a time when Arteta preferred to field a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 shape with Lacazette alongside or behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It’s incredible to think that scenario actually happened considering the otherworldly level the 23-year-old is hitting.

Massive improvements all round.

Continued on next page…