‘Absolutely amazing’: Merson says Arteta may have just pulled off a masterstroke at Arsenal

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Arsenal legend Paul Merson has praised the “absolutely amazing” Martin Odegaard on Sky Sports.

The Highbury icon reckons Mikel Arteta could’ve just pulled off a masterstroke in making Odegaard captain.

In July, the Gunners confirmed that the 23-year-old had become their new permanent skipper.

Odegaard has made a significant impact at Arsenal since his initial loan move from Real Madrid in January 2021.

Arsenal subsequently snapped the Norway captain up in the summer of 2021 for a reported £34million.

Odegaard has played 64 games for the Gunners and established himself as one of their most consistent players.

His goal contribution tally has been impressive too. He has 12 goals and seven assists to his name in red and white.

Odegaard has certainly hit the ground running as Arsenal captain.

He has helped the team to a 100 percent win record in the Premier League after four games, scoring three goals along the way.

“He’s making things happen”

Merson is delighted with how Odegaard has fared as skipper so far.

“It’s been a very good start to Martin Odegaard’s captaincy at Arsenal,” he wrote on Sky Sports.

“They paid £35m to Real Madrid for him. That’s hardly anything.

“The Premier League takes time to get used to and it would have been a kick in the teeth for him to get released by Real Madrid.

“It’s a huge club and I’m sure he’d have wanted to go back there after his loan spell at Arsenal, but Arteta got him back and now he’s showing what a player he is.

“He’s making things happen and when you do that, turning good play into goals and assists, that’s what starts to make people take notice.

“That’s what he’s doing and giving him the captaincy could be a masterstroke.

“However, you’ve now got to see what happens when it isn’t going as well for the team, and he isn’t playing as well himself. Can he keep dragging the team through?

“At the moment, though, he’s doing really well. For £35m, absolutely amazing.”