Rio Ferdinand says Martin Odegaard has been brilliant for Arsenal

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Rio Ferdinand has told his YouTube channel that Martin Odegaard has been brilliant for Arsenal this season, and suggested that he is thriving since being given the captaincy.

The Gunners are, of course, the early pace-setters in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s side have won their opening three games. And they are the only team in the division to have done so.

Obviously, there is a long way to go. But there is real excitement about what Arsenal could achieve this season.

The signings of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus have been inspired. Granit Xhaka looks almost transformed. And William Saliba has made a stunning start to his long-anticipated Arsenal career.

But it was another player who came to the fore on Saturday. Odegaard scored both of their first two goals in their 3-0 victory away at Bournemouth.

‘He was fantastic’

The Norwegian is the permanent captain at the Emirates. It is a remarkable achievement for the 23-year-old. And Ferdinand suggested that he is now showing why there has been such excitement surrounding Odegaard for so many years already.

“He’s started the season off brilliantly. As a player I really like Odegaard. And last season he was fantastic. He’s been a wonderkid from 13, 14, 15 years old. Everyone’s known about this kid. Now he’s starting to show why,” he told his YouTube channel.

“And I think that you either get one of two things. The armband, it either weighs heavily on you, or it enables you to grow and become a better player with the responsibility. And at the moment, three games in, it’s looking like it’s making him a bigger player, bigger personality, big character and grown into the role.”

Martin Odegaard has been brilliant

Obviously, there are going to be much tougher tasks ahead for Arsenal. But in previous years, trips to the likes of Crystal Palace and Bournemouth had the potential to cause enough problems for the Gunners.

They now appear to have a belief that could take them a long way. And in the likes of Jesus, Zinchenko, Bukayo Saka and Odegaard, they have a cluster of world-class players.