‘Why is he playing?’: Paul Merson says Arsenal should drop Martin Odegaard if they know he’s not signing

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Arsenal legend and Sky Sports regular, Paul Merson, has questioned the point in playing Martin Odegaard if the Gunners know he won’t be signing permanently.

Odegaard has made a flying start to life at Arsenal. In the last few weeks in particular, the Norwegian has become a fixture in Mikel Arteta’s first XI and has put in some fine performances.

But there remains an issue over whether Odegaard will sign in the summer. Differing reports, seemingly on a weekly basis, suggest it’s not going to be straightforward if the Gunners do want do a a deal.

And Merson, speaking to the Daily Star, believes Odegaard shouldn’t even be in the team if Arsenal know he isn’t coming in the summer.

“Martin Odegaard looks a really good player and I hope Arsenal have a chance of signing him permanently,” Merson said.

“Because if they don’t have a chance of making his loan permanent next season, why is he playing? If they know he doesn’t want to stay, he shouldn’t be playing because he’s taking opportunities away from people like Emile Smith Rowe.”

Odegaard is currently away with Norway but is due back next week in North London. He is expected to be selected again if fit, given his performances prior to the international break.

TBR View: Merson a bit wide of the mark here when it comes to Odegaard

Arsenal signed Odegaard on loan to bring creativity to the team. Put simply, that’s how loan signings work. You add someone to the team who gives you something you are missing, regardless of if you’ve arranged a permanent deal or not.

Merson is usually quite spot on with his comments but this is certainly an odd one. Odegaard is class, he makes Arsenal a better team. So why they’d not play him, is a bit of a strange call.