Arsenal approach Martin Odegaard over loan deal but Norwegian appears set for Real Sociedad return
Arsenal’s search for a creative midfielder at the club has increased in intensity after it was reported the Gunners have approached Odegaard.
The rise of Smith-Rowe
The rise of Emile Smith Rowe to the Arsenal first team has been an enormous help to Mikel Arteta in turning the Gunner’s form around. Since he was selected against Chelsea on Boxing Day, Arsenal have not lost a single match and have gone on a 5 game unbeaten run winning four and drawing once against Crystal Palace.
It was argued by the Arsenal technical director Edu that the club would look to add creativity in the January transfer market. But with the the emergence of Smith-Rowe as part of the Arsenal senior setup, questions were asked as to whether the the club would pursue anyone.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 29: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal at American Express Community Stadium on December 29, 2020 in Brighton, England.The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
However, it would be naive were Arsenal to choose not to pursue anyone in the January window. Should the England youth international succumb to an injury or, during these difficult times, need to self isolate due to a positive Covid-19 test or by coming into close contact with someone who has contracted the virus, it could leave Arsenal very thin on the ground.
The options to play someone in the same role would require some unorthodox selections. The likes of Willian and Bukayo Saka have both been tried in the role along with youngster Joe Willock, but this has not bore much success.
The Odegaard option
Therefore, it is unsurprising to see that Arsenal have reportedly approached Real Madrid regarding a loan deal for Norwegian international Martin Odegaard.
Exclusive: #AFC make approach to Real Madrid for Martin Odegaard. Madrid considering. Arteta big fan & Odegaard keen on regular first team football. Not a given, other interest in him. More on @SkySportsNews
— Paul Gilmour (@skysportspaulg) January 20, 2021
The attacking midfielder spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad and did well in the Basque country. He scored 4 goals and assisted a further 6 in La Liga for La Real but since returning this season has failed to record a single goal or an assist for Los Blancos.
It is is understandable that the 22-year old would want to move out on loan in order to get more regular game time and recapture the form which saw him impress so much for Sociedad.
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 29: Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid CF leaves the pitch after his warming up before the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 29, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
A loan move is also favourable for Arsenal because they would not be committed to the player. No serious transfer fee would be attached meaning that Arsenal could look for more established and senior targets in the summer should Odegaard not be the quality they desire.
The Gunners have been linked with a number of targets, most notably Norwich City’s Emi Buendia but the Argentine’s price tag may see Arsenal wait until the summer before trying to sign him.
The move for Odegaard could however be tricky with Spanish media reporting that the Norwegian is close to securing a loan back to Sociedad until the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta ‘really satisfied’ with Arsenal’s transfer approach
Arsenal-linked Buendia ‘happy to wait until summer’ to decide future
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Leicester City FC | 19 | 14 | 38 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 18 | 10 | 37 |
| 3 | Manchester City FC | 17 | 16 | 35 |
| 4 | Liverpool FC | 18 | 16 | 34 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 18 | 16 | 33 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 17 | 7 | 32 |
| 7 | West Ham United FC | 19 | 5 | 32 |
| 8 | Chelsea FC | 19 | 10 | 29 |
| 9 | Southampton FC | 18 | 5 | 29 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 19 | 4 | 27 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 15 | 13 | 26 |
| 12 | Leeds United | 18 | -4 | 23 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 19 | -11 | 23 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 19 | -8 | 22 |
| 15 | Newcastle United FC | 18 | -12 | 19 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 19 | -7 | 17 |
| 17 | Burnley FC | 17 | -13 | 16 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 17 | -11 | 12 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 | -28 | 11 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 19 | -22 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 11 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 11 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 10 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 8 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 8 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 7 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 6 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Abraham, Tammy | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 5 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 5 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 6 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 5 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 5 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 6 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Reid, Bobby | Fulham FC | 0 | 5 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Dunk, Lewis | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 4 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 5 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 5 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 4 |
| Kante, N`Golo | Chelsea FC | 0 | 5 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 0 | 4 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 0 | 4 |
| Tielemans, Youri | Leicester City FC | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 11 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 7 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 6 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 5 |
| Robertson, Andrew | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Adams, Che | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 4 |
| Chilwell, Benjamin | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 4 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 4 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 3 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 3 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 3 |
