For years and years, Arsenal toiled and foundered, failing to match the ambitions of a proud and prestigious fanbase with the performances on the pitch, however all that modified upon Mikel Arteta‘s appointment in December 2019.
The Spaniard changed his countryman, Unai Emery, who had did not show his value as the person to succeed the legendary Arsene Wenger, who retired in 2018, and began on the entrance foot with a record-extending triumph in the FA Cup, defeating Chelsea within the ultimate courtesy of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double.
It might take Arteta three-and-a-half years to offer Arsenal with a return to the Champions League, having final performed within the prestigious continental competitors in the 2016/17 season, however his burgeoning outfit roared into life final yr and led Manchester Metropolis in an enthralling title race earlier than chucking up the sponge on the enterprise finish.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings, William Saliba’s prodigious defensive abilities on the again; Arsenal boast one of the thrilling groups in Europe and can hope to glean silverware this season, even perhaps toppling the indomitable power that’s Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis.
The life power of this Gunners staff, the fulcrum of all that flows by means of the Emirates Stadium, is captain Martin Odegaard, boy surprise turned first-class phenom, who now comfortably stands as one of the influential, ingenious attacking midfielders within the sport.
When did Arsenal signal Martin Odegaard?
In January 2021, Arsenal swooped for Actual Madrid’s Norwegian midfielder and secured his services on a six-month loan deal, with Los Blancos granting a transfer for a participant requiring common motion on the pitch.
Odegaard had been a notable title from his adolescence, signing for Actual as a 16-year-old after catching the attention together with his precocious performances in his homeland, joining for a reported €3m (£2.3m).
Praised as “talented” by Arteta throughout that mortgage stint, the Norway captain impressed, scoring a objective and providing two assists within the Premier League, finishing 91% of his passes, averaging 1.4 key passes per sport and succeeding with 76% of his dribble makes an attempt.
His showings prompted the London giants to complete a £30m transfer for his everlasting signature on the finish of the time period, and whereas there have been considerations over a participant who had failed to succeed in his potential and cement a spot on the Santiago Bernabeu, he has now blossomed right into a world-class expertise.
How a lot is Martin Odegaard value now?
Arteta proclaimed that his maestro would develop into “one of the best” midfielders on this planet earlier than he had even completed his mortgage spell, one thing that has been proved proper after which some with Odegaard now the centrepiece of Arsenal’s rise to the higher echelon of groups throughout Europe.
Whereas the £30m payment gave the impression to be one thing of of venture for a participant of immense expertise however uncertainty that he would really stay as much as the potential he had been tagged with since a youth, it is clear that if Arsenal had been to money in now, they’d eclipse that preliminary sum paid.
Certainly, in accordance with CIES Football Observatory‘s valuation mannequin, Odegaard is at present valued at €100m (£86m), a 187% enhance on the preliminary payment, with Football Transfers additionally itemizing solely Neymar Jr. and Pedri as extra useful playmakers.
In fact, it is hardly seemingly such a price ticket would dissuade the Emirates hierarchy from pulling all of the stops to tie the ace right down to a long-term future on the membership.
And certainly, with Arsenal reportedly engaged in contract negotiations with their Scandinavian star for a new contract, and a deal anticipated to be shut, there’s little doubt that this captain will stick with the ship.
Why is Martin Odegaard value that a lot?
Final season, Arsenal returned to the forefront of the English sport, with the elements dovetailing to nice impact and the squad unearthing that successful method that gives an nearly magical benefit to the very biggest sides, able to find a approach to win in essentially the most forgone conclusions.
Heralded as a “wizard” by footballer Babayele Sodade for his half in Arsenal’s feats, Odegaard is press-resistant and unflappable, inventive and composed; his expansive array of instruments can unlock any defence, and he resides alongside Manchester Metropolis’s Kevin De Bruyne because the Premier League’s foremost midfield sensation.
The £115k-per-week machine was unbelievable final yr, scoring 15 goals and supplying eight assists within the league as Arsenal recorded their highest factors whole since successful the Premier League in 2004, with Wenger’s historic ‘invincibles‘ the one Premier League aspect to finish a season undefeated to this present day.
This season, having clinched the Neighborhood Protect towards Manchester Metropolis within the marketing campaign’s curtain-raiser, Odegaard has proved paramount to his aspect’s success but once more, scoring twice from the opening 4 league matches, praised for his “amazing” qualities by compatriot and prolific Metropolis talisman Erling Haaland.
The 53-cap worldwide additionally ranks among the many high 1% of midfielders throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for objectives, the highest 2% for shot-creating actions, the highest 11% for assists, the highest 11% for progressive passes and the highest 12% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.
With De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Luka Modric among the many comparable gamers to the one-time Actual Sociedad loanee, it is clear that not solely does he boast creativity of the best commonplace, however an all-encompassing, multi-functional midfield sport to offer Arteta with the right central cog to whir his machine into life.
The aforementioned traits are precisely what is required for an bold outfit resembling Arsenal pushing to reclaim their spot as considered one of Europe’s most fearsome and horrifying sides within the enterprise.
Odegaard is now among the many standout stars of his ilk, and whereas the Gunners may money in for a profitable sale, the considered permitting this dynamic, prodigious expertise to ply his commerce elsewhere is just unthinkable, and Arteta will perpetually wax over the day that he was delivered to the membership, catalysing a return to the very high.
