Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have a ‘really intelligent’ player in their ranks who helps the team massively

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has waxed lyrical about Martin Odegaard following the Gunners’ Europa League last-16 first leg on Thursday.

The 22-year-old opened his Gunners account in style as Arteta’s charges ran out 3-1 winners away at Olympiakos.

Odegaard let rip with a 25-yard rocket in the 34th minute of the game in Athens to put Arsenal 1-0 up.

As well as opening the scoring for the Gunners, the Real Madrid loanee did a great job of linking midfield and attack together.

“He helps us to do the processes much better,” Arteta told Arsenal.com after the game.

“He helps us as a team because he gives us a lot of continuity on the ball.

“He’s really intelligent to find the spaces, he attracts a lot of opponents. We ask him to score goals, to arrive in the box.

“Today, he scored a brilliant goal and his contribution was really important for the team.”

Arsenal were pegged back by Youssef El-Arabi just before the hour, but Gabriel Magalhaes and Mohamed Elneny scored late on for a commanding first-leg lead.

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When reports of Odegaard looking for a loan move first emerged in the January transfer window, plenty of Arsenal fans called for the club to join the race for his signature.

Much to their delight, things moved really quickly and Odegaard soon linked up with the Gunners, where he has been doing really well.

Arsenal were crying out for a No. 10 earlier this season and, while Emile Smith Rowe has done superbly, he can’t be expected to shoulder the burden of creativity all on his own.