The Gunners put their highest offensive target in the January transfer window, but how does it fit into Mikel Arteta ‘s plans?
It’s a sign that Mikel Arteta is excited.
Arsenal had a clear manager entering the transfer window. He wanted a creative midfielder, someone who could come in and share the burden that was carried almost exclusively by 20-year-old Emile Smith Rowe a few weeks ago.
And he’s got his husband, lying on the extremely talented Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season.
“He’s a player we’ve been following for a while and we believe he has some special qualities that we need,” Arteta said with great delight after confirming that the Norwegian international had been captured.
“In the last few seasons, he has progressed and developed in the right way. I have followed him closely because he played [on loan] for Real Sociedad, which is my hometown club. I really know him.
“I really enjoyed it. He’s so talented. He needs the right environment, he needs some time but I think he has the qualities to be successful for us.”
Odegaard has been a player Arsenal have been looking for for several years.
He visited the club’s London Colney training center at the age of 15 and had a training session with Arsene Wenger’s first team while he wondered which major European club would come together. .
He eventually opted for Real Madrid, but has now reached north London with the goal of helping Arteta side push for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
And his income will be a huge boost for Arteta ahead of the second half of the campaign, providing much-needed extra options for the Spaniard in the attacking areas.
“He’s an expert capable of playing in the pockets, playing in No.8 or No.10 positions,” Arteta said. “He can play off the sides. He’s a very creative player who’s very comfortable on the ball in tight spots.
“He has the ability to create chances and score goals but his level of work without the ball is also a huge improvement, so it’s a great alternative to give us more creativity in the third place. final round, and give us more options to set up in different ways against specific teams. “
After regularly changing shapes from taking over at Arsenal, Arteta has settled on a 4-2-3-1 position in recent weeks, and the system has yielded good results for him.
With Mesut Ozil left out of the Premier League squad, a lack of creativity in the midfield was a key issue for the Gunners during the opening months of the campaign, with goals proving difficult to come by.
The defeat at Everton on December 19 left Arsenal 15th in the record, four points off relegation and with a goal of just 12 in 14 league games.
This prompted a change from Arteta. Smith Rowe came into the sidelines against Chelsea on Boxing Day, appearing as No. 10 behind the striker, and Arsenal have not looked back since.
They have won five and drawn one of their last six league games, scoring 14 goals in the process and conceding just two. They face Manchester United on Saturday afternoon sitting ninth in the Premier League, just three points off the top six.
Odegaard is not expected to go straight into the starting lineup but he could be among the substitutes as Arteta lets him into his new environment.
Once he’s full up, the 22-year-old will give Arteta another excellent option at No.10, which is his preferred position and the role he has performed so well while on loan. with Sociedad last season.
Odegaard made 31 appearances in La Liga during the 2019-20 campaign, scoring four goals and conceding six assists.
Playing behind the advances, he created 62 chances at an average of 2.2 every 90 minutes and had a passing accuracy of 84.7 percent.
“Odegaard is a great player,” said Arsenal legend Lauren Amas. “I watched it when he was at Sociedad and it was just brilliant.
“He is a great player who can take the game away from the opponents. He has proved that in La Liga, which is not easy to do. ”
There is no doubt that Odegaard is the best in a mid-attack role where he can get the ball in space and be that link between midfield and attack.
He should go into shape 4-2-3-1 unknowingly if he gets the node ahead of Smith Rowe and could carry more goal risk than the 20-year-old.
Norway had 50 international attempts on target during his time at the Anoeta, averaging 1.78 every 90 minutes, which puts him ahead of Smith Rowe, who has averaged 0.76 hits. goals per game in the Premier League this season.
But Odegaard will give Arteta other options than just competing for the No.10 position. If Arteta wants to switch to a 4-3-3 format, he has the qualities to play as No. 8 forwards like Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.
He can also operate from the right side of the attack if needed, where he is fond of moving into his left leg and displaying his excellent ball bearing characteristics, which he has seen. finished 2.2 dribles every 90 minutes in La Liga last season.
The option to use Odegaard outright allowed Arteta to start with both himself and Smith Rowe, something the Arsenal boss says is entirely possible.
“Of course they can play together,” he said. “And this is not about pushing someone else [out of the team]. Emile has earned his right to play as he performs – and Martin must earn that too.
“But Emile can’t play every game. For example, in an injured FA Cup, he could not play. The other day [against Southampton on Tuesday], he could only play certain minutes because he was sad.
“It’s been a huge step for him for what he’s been doing for three, four months and what he’s doing now. We need choices. ”
Odegaard has arrived at a time when Arsenal are playing their best football of the season, which should help him get to know his surroundings as he is not expected to hit the ground running and saving what a few weeks ago was shaping up to be an awesome season.
Arteta has already said it would like to lend a permanent move in the summer. But, for now, the focus is just on getting to the new level as quickly as possible and letting his great talents help push Arsenal further up the table and closer. on the European places.
Odegaard brings quality, creativity and flexibility to north London.
His move to Arsenal has been a long time coming, but if he reaches the heights he hit while in San Sebastian last season, it will definitely be worth the wait.