Football writer Charles Watts has expressed his amazement at the ‘bargain’ price Arsenal paid to sign Martin Odegaard this summer.
In their last outing, the Gunners claimed an important 2-1 home victory over Brentford in the Premier League thanks to goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.
However, while speaking on his YouTube channel after the game, Watts seemed particularly impressed with the Norwegian’s display in particular.
Indeed, after the game, the journalist claimed Odegaard had already proven he was worth every penny, having joined from Real Madrid for an initial fee of £30m.
Who would you prefer to have at your club?
Martin Odegaard
James Maddison
He went on to claim the player will just get ‘better and better and better’, saying: “To get Martin Odegaard for £30m, half the price of James Maddison, who was been touted around – I’m not saying Maddison’s a bad player and that I wouldn’t have wanted him at Arsenal, because I think he’s good and I think he’d have been good at Arsenal.
“But that’s a hell of a deal that Arsenal managed to get – a young international, still only 23, nowhere near his prime yet, only going to get better.
“Loads of potential and talent, an international captain. To get him for £30m, it always looked like a bargain, and it is absolutely proving it now. He’s just getting better and better and better.”
TIF Thoughts on Martin Odegaard and Arsenal…
It is interesting to see Watts bring up Leicester City man James Maddison, who was linked with a £60m move to Arsenal instead of Odegaard.
While the Englishman has impressed this season with six goals and three assists in 23 league games, considering Odegaard cost roughly half the mooted price and has managed four goals and three assists in 21 league games – while helping his side perform much better in the division – it’s safe to say Mikel Arteta can be content with his signing.
No doubt, the talented Norwegian will be a key figure as he tries to help Arsenal finish inside the top four this season and get themselves playing in the Champions League once again. If he manages that, that ‘bargain’ fee will look like even more of a steal.
In other news: ‘When it comes to the summer’ – Watts reveals exciting new name on Arsenal’s transfer ‘agenda’