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Paul Merson names the Arsenal player who makes Bukayo Saka look so much better

Charles Jones

Fri 29 November 2024 11:45, UK

Arsenal seem to have rediscovered their groove over the couple of weeks.

The Gunners hammered Nottingham Forest 3-0 in their return to Premier League action at the weekend, while they thrashed Sporting CP 5-1 in the Champions Leaꦉgue.

It’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s return to form has coincided with Martin Odegaard’s return to the starting XI.

The Arsenal captain is back in action after a lengthy injury, and he’s ཧbeenඣ red hot upon his return.

Odegaard has received plenty of praise for his performances over the past week, and writing in his column on , Paul Merson has hailed the midfielder.

Indeed, Merson says that Odegaard is a different class player who makes Bukayo Saka look so much better.

• READ MORE: I left Arsenal for free and now I’m scoring in 6-1 Ch✱ampions L💟eague thrashing

Martin Odegaard helps Bukayo Saka improve

M✱erson spoke about how Odegaard improves Arsenal as a team and improves Saka as a player.

The pundit says that Saka goes to another level whe🌄never he shares a pitch with Odegaard.

Saka has been touted as a future Arsenal captain, but it’🐬s the curr🐼ent Arsenal skipper who is being praised here.

“Martin Odegaard is different class, what a player. He makes Bukayo Saka 10 times better! Don’t get me wrong, Saka is a good player but𝓡 Ode𝕴gaard just elevates him to another level,” Merson wrote.

Bukayo Saka’s stats alongside Martin Odegaard

Merson says ꦫthat Odegaard helps Saka reach another level, and he’s not wrong.

Indeed, Saka’s n🐎umbers are indeed better when he’s playing alongside Odegaard.

As you can see, Saka’s numbers are better 🅷when he’s on the same pitch as his captain, and that’s because of the influence Odegaard has on the Arsenal attack.

Odegaard isn’t necessarily constantly feeding Saka, but he is creating space, dictating play, and making thi🔯ngs happen in the final third.

Arsenal average 2.1 points per game when Saka and Odegaard both play, and that’s a serious improvement on🌳 the 1.83 points per game Arsenal are averaging this season.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
4	ArsenalArsenal	12	6	4	2	21	12	9	22

If Arsenal are to contend for the Premier League title this season, then their best bet is to get Saka and Od♏egaard on the same pi൲tch together as often as possible.

These two are vital to any potential success Arsenal will taste this seas♛on.