Arsenal came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 vs West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday and playmaker Martin Odegaard was one of the heroes of the game.
The Hammers had managed to go 3-0 up by the 32nd minute of the match but then two own goals and an equalizer from Lacazette ensured that Arsenal managed to pick up at least a point.
Martin Odegaard has been growing rapidly in influence under Mikel Arteta in the past few weeks and this game was the first real glimpse of what the loanee is capable of. And manager Mikel Arteta just could not stop praising the 22-year-old, after the draw.
“I think he had an incredible performance, he was very intelligent the way he read the game, the way he effected the game and again he showed how much he wants to win,” the manager said after the match.
“When everyone was a little bit trembling, he gave us that composure on the ball and he created chance after chance.
“I love talented and creative players that all the time are willing to take that ball and make things happen, that are mobile and also hard-working. He is one of them.
“We have some others with different qualities but it’s true that Martin is now giving us a different level on certain things that we didn’t have.
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“He’s been showing that from week one. When he steps on to that pitch, he always wants the ball.
“He commands the pressing and he’s been really influential. I think we are all happily surprised because he looks shy and humble but when he steps on that pitch, he is a real character. He loves to play football.”
Martin Odegaard has managed to dethrone Emile Smith Rowe from that playmaker’s role at Arsenal in the past few games and after this draw vs West Ham, dropping him to the bench will be nearly impossible.
According to Whoscored, Lacazette was the best player for the Gunners on Sunday but Odegaard came second with a rating of 7.5.
After his loan move to Arsenal, the 22-year-old has so far played in 8 Premier League games for the North London side, scoring one goal. And without a doubt, this game should force Mikel Arteta to make his loan deal permanent in the summer.
