Alex Scott reacts to Martin Odegaard’s display in Arsenal draw

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Alex Scott has told Match of the Day 2 that Martin Odegaard was absolutely sensational on Sunday, and insisted that Arsenal need to do all they can to keep the loanee next season.

Odegaard helped inspire the Gunners’ remarkable fightback against West Ham at the London Stadium. The home side took a 3-0 lead before Arsenal came back to draw the game.

The Norwegian was pivotal in the comeback. As shown by Whoscored, he completed four key passes – more than any other Arsenal player. Meanwhile, he managed four successful dribbles during the contest.

He certainly seemed to be Arsenal’s most dangerous player against the Irons. And Scott – who criticised the Real Madrid loanee recently – implored Mikel Arteta’s men to try and make sure that he remains in North London beyond his loan.

“I remember a couple of weeks ago against Manchester City, saying that Odegaard was bang average, like many of the other Arsenal players that game. But since then, his levels have just taken it up and up like he’s getting used to finding the spaces, what the Premier League’s about,” she told Match of the Day 2.

“And today, he was absolutely sensational. He was just like at half-time: ‘I want to win this game. I’m going to drag us out of the situation that we’ve been in’. He was absolutely everywhere.

“Such a technical player. I think Arsenal need to do everything they can to keep him next season.”

Arsenal’s hopes of keeping Odegaard are not going to be helped by his current performances. This is surely exactly what Los Blancos would have been hoping to see from the 22-year-old when they gave the green light to loaning him out.

It would be a huge statement therefore, for Arsenal to keep him. But if he is enjoying his football – as he appears to be right now – that will surely work in their favour should they ask the question in the summer.