Ian Wright has claimed that he and the Arsenal fans will be “praying” that the club will be able to keep a hold of Martin Odegaard past this season.
The 22-year-old joined the Gunners on loan from Real Madrid during the January transfer window. He has impressed for his new club from his 12 outings so far.
Odegaard got his first-ever Premier League in the North London derby against Tottenham to help his side win 2-1.
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The starlet joined the Spanish giants in 2015 from Norweigan side Stromsgodset. But he has only played eleven times for them in all competitions since then.
In recent years, he has had positive loan spells away with the likes of Real Sociedad and Vitesse. It is currently unclear whether Odegaard will remain an Arsenal player beyond this season.
Speaking on his Wrighty’s House Podcast, Wright suggested that Mikel Arteta will be thinking that Odegaard “is the guy” Arsenal need:
“Watching Odegaard play for Arsenal, I’m so happy and I’m so sad.
“You’re thinking that’s the quality and composure Arsenal need. Arteta must be on the sideline thinking, ‘oh my god, this is what I need, this is the guy’.
“His contract runs out in 2023 with Madrid, we’re going through a spell where there’s not a lot of money about, Madrid need money, if Zidane stays there can you see him putting Odegaard in his team?
“You’re thinking to yourself if he carries on playing like he is, because we’re looking at [Luka] Modric and [Toni] Kroos and they’re going to have to get replaced by someone at some stage now.
“Whether that’s Odegaard or they might sell Odegaard to finance getting somebody else.
“When you look at him, this is serious business with Odegaard, this is a player we need, and I don’t know how they’re going to do that.
“For me, I think £45million to £50million, even though we’re talking about someone who’s been on loan to Holland, Spain and now here, he’s played a handful of games but he looks so impressive.
“You have to pray, the Arsenal fanbase have to put it out into the ether, the energy and the good vibes, to make it happen because he is needed.”
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