BBC pundit labels Odegaard a ‘touch of class’ after Arsenal win

Add as preferred source on Google

Garth Crooks has told BBC Sport that Martin Odegaard looked a touch of class for Arsenal in their latest win, admitting that he was taken to task by a fan for not naming the Norwegian in his team of the week previously.

Odegaard was one of the stars of the show once again on Sunday as the Gunners picked up another big win. Mikel Arteta’s men beat Leicester City 2-0 at the Emirates to return to the top-four in the Premier League.

Odegaard did not score for Arsenal. However, he was pulling the strings for the home side. He made twice the number of key passes of anyone else on the pitch, according to Whoscored.

That will come as little surprise to Gunners fans. The Norwegian has been absolutely outstanding for a long time.

He scored in the win over Watford the previous week. Nevertheless, Crooks did not name the 23-year-old in his team of the week off the back of his display at Vicarage Road.

‘Taken to task last week’

There was no omission this week however. Crooks noted that his decision over the previous team did not go down well with some of the Arsenal fans.

“I was taken to task last week by a punter, in a petrol station of all places, who asked me why I hadn’t selected Martin Odegaard in my team after his performance against Watford. I had thought about putting Odegaard in for a while but realised I had run out of places,” he told BBC Sport.

“Reece James, Philippe Coutinho, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez were a bit spicy I told this punter, but I did say to him he had a fair point. No such problems this week.

“In a performance that was not scintillating but professional – and I thought Leicester were poor – Odegaard looks a touch of class. Arsenal are turning out steady, consistent performances. I wish I could say the same about their neighbours.”

Odegaard inspiring Arsenal push for the top-four

Odegaard returned to Arsenal under a lot of pressure. He was signed permanently for a hefty fee after a good loan spell last season. However, he was not always able to make an impact on games.

But he has been every bit as good as Arsenal fans would have hoped he would be. And few players seem to be doing more right now to take the Gunners into the top-four.

He has been in inspired form. And Arteta appears to have stumbled upon the perfect midfield formula with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in there.

The sides hoping to catch Arsenal will certainly be worried about the form of Odegaard right now.