Mikel Arteta praises ‘match winner’ Martin Odegaard as Arsenal see off Southampton

Add as preferred source on Google

There were some encouraging signs for Mikel Arteta yesterday as he sat back and watched his Arsenal team take apart Southampton and come out 3-0 winners.

Despite the Saints keeping Aaron Ramsdale busy in the Gunners goal, it never looked in doubt once both Alex Lacazette and Martin Odegaard had given Arsenal a two-goal lead in the opening 45. A third from Gabriel put the gloss on things, as Arteta got a much-needed win.

One of the goalscorers, Martin Odegaard, scored for the third successive game. The Norwegian is finding some form since his £30m arrival in the summer. And speaking following the game, Mikel Arteta believes more Arsenal players need to be following Odegaard’s lead.

“Yeah and he should have scored a hat-trick against Everton. He’s making it into the box much more and now he understands why we encourage him to do that.

“Because then he is a match winner – that’s the difference between a very good player and a match winner – and we need more of those players on the pitch, to win more of our games,” Arteta told Arsenal’s official presser.

Odegaard kept his place yesterday despite Emile Smith Rowe being back fit. Gabi Martinelli also played, while the big story was seeing captain Aubameyang dropped for disciplinary reasons.

TBR’s View: Martin Odegaard Has Talent, He Just Needs Consistency

And in fairness to the Norwegian, that consistency is coming into his game. Yes, he could and probably should have even more influence on proceedings. But you can’t complain at three in three at the end of the day.

Arteta knew what he was getting when he signed Odegaard. Arsenal have a talented player on their hands who just needs a helping hand. And under Arteta, Odegaard looks to be getting that help.

Now, it’s time to really kick on. He can be Arsenal’s man man in the number ten position and really help the Gunners climb back into the top four.