On January 27th, Arsenal announced the loan signing of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid. Although just a short-term deal, the transfer is something of a coup for the Gunners, as the Norwegian was reportedly close to a return to Real Sociedad before instead opting for the Premier League. At Real Madrid, his opportunities were limited, and it’s a testament to his mentality that he sought a new challenge outside of La Liga. So, now he’s an Arsenal player, what does he bring, and where will Mikel Arteta play him?
Fitting into Arteta’s System
Since being appointed as the head coach at the Emirates back in December 2019, Arteta has experimented with numerous systems. At present, he seems to have settled on a 4-2-3-1, with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey providing defensive stability to an attack-minded setup. Thankfully, this stylistic approach benefits Odegaard and complements the way he likes to play. In the 2019-20 campaign, while on loan at Sociedad, the 22-year-old played 35 times as an attacking midfielder, and once from the right flank.
In the central role, the Drammen-born playmaker scored seven goals and assisted nine. To put this into perspective, he averaged a goal contribution from the offensive midfield position in just over every two games. Although he has only recently moved, he’ll likely play a pivotal role throughout the season. Mesut Ozil, their big-money creative player, departed the club to join Fenerbahce earlier in the transfer window, while Emile Smith Rowe picked up a muscle injury in the Gunners’ 3-1 victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s.
Idolizing Fabregas, but Can he Replicate the Spaniard?
Rather interestingly, although Odegaard supported Liverpool, he recently admitted that Cesc Fabregas was one of his idols growing up. Although the Spaniard predominantly occupied a deeper position on the pitch, his creativity appears to have influenced the Norwegian’s game. During his early 20s, Fabregas was one of the best midfielders in world football. At 22, Fabregas recorded world-class numbers during the 2009-10 season, scoring 15 goals and setting up a further 13 in 27 appearances.
Realistically, nobody expects Odegaard to replicate Fabregas’ form from the latter years of his Arsenal career. That said, Arteta will be looking for the Real Madrid loanee to inject some creativity into the Gunners’ attack. On paper, the deal benefits all parties, with Los Blancos likely to closely follow their future star’s progress.
Currently, Arteta’s side are 10/1 in the football betting to clinch a top-four spot come the end of the ongoing campaign. In their hunt for European qualification, Odegaard will undoubtedly boost the Gunners’ chances of beating their rivals. His creativity could provide the spark needed to break through low-block defenses, thus maximizing the London club’s ability to pick up much-need points.
A Creative Cog in Attack-Minded System
The club’s differences with Ozil were well-documented prior to his departure, but now Arteta has a hassle-free creative option in his squad. If Odegaard’s numbers in La Liga indicate what his short-term loan may offer, the Emirates faithful are in for a treat. Not only is he capable of producing defense-splitting passes, but he’s also versatile, and that’ll prove priceless during the Premier League’s relentless scheduling.
