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Berta has signed an “exciting” talent who can end Odegaard’s Arsenal career
After a stressful Premier League weekend full of mixed emotions, you’d have to say that Arsenal have still come away the winners.
Sure, Mikel Arteta’s side were poor against Nottingham Forest and dropped two points, but with Manchester City and Aston Villa both losing, their lead atop the table has actually grown.
However, while things are still looking good for the Gunners, some players need to step up their performances in the coming weeks, such as Martin Odegaard.
The captain can still play a big part in Arsenal’s success this season, but if he doesn’t get back to his best, his long-term place in the team could eventually be taken by one of Andrea Berta’s most intriguing signings.
Odegaard’s form this season
Just a couple of years ago, Odegaard was picking up his second Player of the Season award in as many years and looking like Arsenal’s most important midfielder.
However, since the start of last season, he has generally looked a shadow of his former self, and while that is undoubtedly in part down to the injuries he’s suffered, he still needs to step up.
That might sound harsh, but the captain has shown glimpses of his old mercurial self this season, like against Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa, so he clearly still has it in there.
However, those flashes of brilliance have been just that, and a return of one goal and four assists in 22 games this year simply isn’t good enough.
Moreover, he was arguably one of the more disappointing players against Forest on Saturday evening.
|
Odegaard’s recent form |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Appearances |
45 |
22 |
|
Minutes |
3447′ |
1215′ |
|
Goals |
6 |
1 |
|
Assists |
12 |
4 |
|
Goal Involvements per Match |
0.4 |
0.22 |
|
Minutes per Goal Involvement |
191.5′ |
243′ |
For almost the entire time he was on the pitch, the 27-year-old was practically anonymous.
So while it’s difficult to pick out any glaring mistakes, it’s even more difficult to pick out anything positive he did.
Unsurprisingly, his numbers from the match more than back up such an opinion.
For example, in his 56 minutes of action, he failed to take a shot, completed just 18 passes, of which one was a key pass, and didn’t complete a single dribble.
There is still a chance that Odegaard gets back to his best for Arsenal, but as things stand, he looks miles off the player who used to run things from the middle of the park.
If he’s not careful, he could one day see himself replaced by one of Berta’s recent signings.
The signing who could end Odegaard’s Arsenal career
Since taking on the role of Arsenal’s Sporting Director, Berta has made quite an impact and brought in a host of talented players.
Yet, when it comes to the player who might replace Odegaard for the long term, it’s not a high-profile signing like Eberechi Eze; it’s the signing of a teenage sensation.
In early December, news broke that the Gunners had completed the capture of highly rated Ecuadorian twins Holger and Edwin Quintero.
They won’t be able to join the first-team squad until 2027, when they turn 18, but to say they are seen as future superstars would be an understatement.
Edwin looks like he could be a terrifying winger capable of adding some great skill to the frontline, but it’s Holger who could be the long-term replacement for Odegaard.
Described as “a decisive creator with a killer final ball” by respected analyst-turned-scout Ben Mattinson, the teenage phenom can play in a few positions but seems to thrive in the ten role.
One of the reasons for this is that, according to Mattinson, he’s shown an ability to marry up his creativity with an exceptional “1v1 prowess to take on players” and all-around “excellent vision.”
However, to replace the Gunners’ captain, a player must also be incredibly technical and able to move the ball around with ease in the middle of the park.
Fortunately, it seems that the 16-year-old can do just that as well, with U23 scout Antonio Mango describing him as having “high technical & intellect qualities.”
Finally, as if all that wasn’t enough, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has been bold enough to describe the teenager as “one of the most exciting U17s in South America.”
Considering the incredible players that have and continue to come out of the continent, that is some high praise indeed.
Ultimately, it’s not going to happen right away, but if Odegaard continues to underwhelm and Holger becomes the player so many expect him to be, there could be a changing of the guard in Arsenal’s midfield sooner than some expect.
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