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Why Arsenal could sign "the best 10 in Europe" to replace Odegaard

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Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring for Arsenal vs Chelsea

Published Sep 29, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1

Matt specialises in football analysis, transfer insight and original feature writing across the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football.

A sports writer for 15 years, Matt graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in 2018 and has developed particular expertise in Arsenal and the wider Premier League while also reporting on clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and teams across the EFL. He joined Football FanCast as part of its writing team in 2019 before progressing to Assistant Editor and then becoming a Senior Editor in 2021.

His work combines authoritative reporting with data-led analysis, tactical insight and informed transfer assessment. Matt regularly examines how players fit into different systems, what their underlying numbers reveal about their performances and whether transfer targets represent realistic solutions for clubs. His analysis aims to go beyond the headline, explaining not just what has happened but what it means for a team, manager or player.

Matt's journalism has also appeared through the Press Association, with his work featured by Sky Sports and the Daily Mail. He previously served as Arsenal and Premier League Editor at VAVEL and gained first-hand club-media experience with Chesterfield FC. Over his career, he has interviewed figures including Arsène Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton. Matt's voice has been heard across Arsenal Fan TV and Love Sport Radio.

Through his reporting, analysis and features, Matt brings readers credible football insight grounded in research, statistics, tactical understanding and years of experience covering the professional game.

Today, Matt leads Football FanCast's features team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's opinion coverage while helping shape its overall editorial standards and content strategy.

In the last few years, Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard has been seen as something of a marmite character.

Some love him. After all, he is the first captain of the club in over two decades to lift the Premier League trophy. That has to mean something, right?

Yet, his performances in recent years have led to questions surrounding his future in N5. Could the Norwegian leave the Emirates Stadium?

Well, it's certainly something sections of the fanbase wanted to see.

Why Odegaard was on the brink of leaving Arsenal

It is safe to say that the last few years have not been Odegaard's best.

Sure, he did captain the side to a league title, but the midfielder will likely have felt a degree of imposter syndrome due to his lack of contribution.

Indeed, in 2025/26, the Norway international scored just one Premier League goal all season. In truth, he played very little part in helping Arsenal win the league.

His performances last season were sadly nothing new. 2024/25 was also a tough one for Odegaard. During that campaign, he only netted three times in the top flight. He did, however, register 11 assists. That equalled the best seasonal tally of his whole career.

What didn't help in that period was an ankle injury sustained on international duty. He struggled to get back to full fitness and that problem had clearly had a negative impact on his ability to strike through a football. It didn't look like Odegaard trusted his body.

So, coming into 2026/27, a big change in fortunes was needed. After Mikel Arteta missed out on the likes of Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers, the boss required someone to stand up and be counted. Odegaard has been that man.

How Odegaard has returned to his best

After a tricky two seasons in Arsenal red, rumours emerged that the captain may well be destined for pastures new. He didn't look like the type of player who was capable of taking the Gunners to the next level.

Well, it looks like we might have been wrong. Odegaard is still an Arsenal player; he's still the captain, and he's now arguably in the form of his life.

The turnaround in performance level has been incredible. He looks like one of the best midfielders in the world having added more goals to his game.

This season, the 27-year-old has already scored four times in eight matches and he's been a marvel creatively too.

Against Napoli in the Champions League, he provided as many as six key passes. He also scored the winning goal, a beauty from the edge of the area. At last, Odegaard has his mojo back.

Only six players in the Premier League have produced more key passes per match (2.4) than Arsenal's number 8 has.

Most key passes per game: 26/27 Premier League

Player

Key passes per game

1) Pascal Gross	3.0
2) Savio	3.0
3) Morgan Gibbs-White	2.8
4) Granit Xhaka	2.6
5) Bruno Fernandes	2.6
6) Marcus Rashford	2.6
7) Martin Odegaard	2.4

So, surely a replacement isn't being lined up? Well, in their pursuit of greatness, Andrea Berta and Co cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

Why Arsenal could sign competition for Odegaard

Arsenal are blessed with two incredible understudies in the form of Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman.

For Nwaneri, there is an expectation that however much he impresses on loan at Borussia Dortmund this season, he will likely have to move elsewhere on a permanent basis to secure regular football.

For Dowman, however, his future looks a lot brighter at Arsenal. His two goals against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup were evidence of that.

Arsenal's Max Dowman scores vs Ipswich Town

However, with a first-team player in the form of Eberechi Eze underperforming, perhaps the club could dip their toes into the transfer market.

According to TEAMtalk, Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo is likely to be available in the new year. As a result, intermediaries have contacted a number of English clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur about his availability.

While the Spaniard is an attacking midfielder by trade, he is cut from a similar cloth to Eze and the aforementioned Rogers. They are all also capable of playing on the left flank and Olmo's versatility would stand him in good stead for making an impact at the Emirates.

Over the summer, Arsenal only made one addition to their forward line in the form of Christos Tzolis and there is a belief that they require more firepower and creativity in the winter if they are to successfully compete across all four fronts.

Well, Olmo could be their man. While he is capable of playing on either flank, he has been described as "the best ten in Europe" by reporters in Spain, and while that may take some arguing, he is certainly up there. Last season, he was actually ahead of Odegaard for a plethora of stats.

Indeed, Olmo ranked among the finest 2% of midfielders in Europe's top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes with 0.30. He ranked among the best 1% for shots per 90, open-play expected assists and open-play big chances created.

The 28-year-old isn't just a goalscorer - he netted seven in 33 LaLiga matches last season - but he's also an elite creator. He provided ten assists for his teammates last term.

Barcelona's Dani Olmo celebrates scoring their third goal with FC Barcelona's Alejandro Balde and FC Barcelona's Marcus Rashford-1

So, while Odegaard has come good, Arsenal cannot afford to stand still. Perhaps it could actually be the £60m-rated Olmo who takes them to the next level.

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