Gunners captain Ødegaard is currently better than Kevin De Bruyne. Analysts Jerrel Hasselbaink and Jamie Redknapp think so. The Norwegian playmaker is having an excellent season with Arsenal, who maintained their five-point lead over Manchester City on Sunday with a 0-3 win over Fulham.
Leandro Trossard signed that victory with three assists in one half – a unique achievement in the Premier League – but afterwards it was mainly Ødegaard who was praised. The 24-year-old captain signed against Fulham for the final score and now has ten goals and six assists in the Premier League. Redknapp thinks he is currently the best midfielder in the English league. Also better than Kevin De Bruyne, so.
Ødegaard is a different type of player than De Bruyne
“He’s number one at the moment,” the former Liverpool player told Sky Sports. “Normally you would say that De Bruyne is the best midfielder, but there is something missing from him at the moment. Ødegaard has a quality that all great players have, it’s like time stands still when he has the ball. He is so calm on the ball, he has already scored four or five times with his left foot this way. He’s the leader of the team.”
Hasselbaink joined in and saw Ødegaard playing the best football of his career. “He is a different type of player than De Bruyne, but he always sees the right solution in a small space and remains very calm. He does not have as many assists as De Bruyne (twelve), but he is also not that type of player,” knows the former striker of Chelsea and Leeds United, among others. “The things he does, he does so gracefully and well. It’s a pleasure to watch him play,” said the analyst.
Ødegaard himself pointed to the team performance afterwards and expressed his joy about the return of Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker made his comeback after a long absence. Due to a knee injury sustained during the World Cup in Qatar. He said, “It’s a huge boost. We know what he can give the team and are very happy to have him back.” Manager Mikel Arteta also expressed his happiness at the return of the former Manchester City player.
