Ferdinand thinks only Barcelona could take Odegaard away from Arsenal

By Jordan Harris

Rio Ferdinand has claimed on his YouTube channel that he can only see a club like Barcelona standing a chance of being able to lure Martin Odegaard away from Arsenal as he named the Norwegian as his player of the season so far.

Odegaard has already enjoyed his best season yet in the Premier League. The Gunners skipper notched his eighth goal of the campaign with the long-range strike against Tottenham in Sunday’s North London derby.

Meanwhile, he also has five assists. To put that into context, he ended the previous campaign with seven goals and four assists for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Ferdinand believes only Barcelona could lure Odegaard away from Arsenal

Like many of those around him, Odegaard has stepped up to another level so far this term. And that has helped Arsenal put themselves eight points clear at the top of the table.

With the Gunners’ rise coming as such a surprise to many, some may be wondering whether the club will face a future battle to keep some of their star players. And Odegaard is certainly one of those likely to attract the most attention.

Ferdinand was asked whether Arsenal can keep Odegaard. And he suggested that there are only a couple of sides in world football who would stand any chance of signing the 24-year-old.

“The only place he goes is somewhere like Barca. If they come in, it’s a different conversation,” he told his YouTube channel.

“I’d go as far as to say he’s probably my player of the year. Haaland’s been great, don’t get me wrong. If Haaland eases up with the goals and Arsenal win the league and Odegaard continues, he’s my player of the year.”

Gunners surely have little to worry about

It is hard to see why the former Real Madrid man would want to leave Arsenal any time soon. They are flying right now. And they have the foundations in place that could allow them to be amongst the heavyweights for some time.

The problem will come if Arsenal do not manage to kick on from here. Their star players have had a taste of glory now. And if the Gunners fall away, moves away may start to become a little more tempting.

But given how well they have built in the last couple of years, it is hard to see Arteta’s side falling away anytime soon anyway.