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‘Incredible’ Arsenal player has proved Gunners legends Tony Adams and Keown wrong – TBR View

Arsenal Unveil New Signing Martin Odegaard
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal legends Martin Keown and Tony Adams were not convinced when Mikel Arteta decided to sign Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.

The Norwegian initially joined the Gunners on loan at the start of this year and he impressed. Arteta was convinced that he was the right man for the club and forked out for his signature in the summer.

Most Arsenal fans knew Odegaard’s quality and were happy with his arrival. However, a number of pundits had a go at Arteta, Edu and the Gunners for signing a player who only scored a couple of goals in half a season with the Gunners.

Tony Adams was the first one to criticise the Gunners’ recruitment and Keown followed that up in the summer, saying that Odegaard is not ‘world-class’.

What Tony Adams and Keown once said about Martin Odegaard

Back in February, Adams had a go at Arsenal for signing Odegaard.

He said, as per : “To be honest, there’s an argument that you don’t need Martin Odegaard. I got so annoyed that we bought Pepe and Willian in when you’ve got two kids [Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka] bursting into the team.

“There’s other areas in the team that you could look at, there’s holes in that team. We saw how fragile they are defensively. The defence has always been the weak link. As the sporting director of Arsenal, you wouldn’t be getting Odegaard in, you’d be getting good, strong defenders into the team instead.”

Keown said in the summer, as per : “Odegaard came in after Boxing Day. Yes, the results improved largely. He played 16 times, nine starts, five [substitute appearances], one goal and two assists.

“I think Smith Rowe is a better player in that position. But if the manager feels this Odegaard can bring something extra to the group then time will tell again. I don’t think though that he’s a world-class player but I do think he’s a promising player.”

Norwich City v Arsenal - Premier League
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

The Norwegian has silenced his critics

Since joining Arsenal on a permanent deal in the summer, Odegaard has been brilliant.

The Norwegian, labelled as ‘‘ by Arteta, has directly been involved in eight goals in all competitions, six of which have come in his last six Premier League games.

The 23-year-old has been one of Arsenal’s best players recently and he’s keeping Emile Smith Rowe away from the squad, even though the Englishman has scored four goals in his last four appearances.

Keown and Adams have definitely been proved wrong and the two Arsenal legends may owe Odegaard an apology.

Burnley v Arsenal - Premier League
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