As Arsenal gears up to face the defending champions, Real Madrid, in the upcoming Champions League quarter-final next month, one player eager to leave his mark is Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners’ captain initially joined the Emirates on loan from the LaLiga club in January 2021. Subsequently, Mikel Arteta and then-sporting director Edu Gaspar decided to invest approximately £30 million to secure his permanent transfer ahead of the 2021/22 season.
Before this, the former teenage prodigy struggled to establish himself at the Bernabeu after signing a high-profile contract at the age of 16 in 2015. He managed only 11 first-team appearances for Los Blancos, failing to score or provide an assist.
Having been loaned to clubs such as Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem, and Real Sociedad, Odegaard ultimately found his place with the Gunners just over four years ago. His current role as captain and his impressive tally of 73 goals and assists in 185 appearances underscore his successful integration into the team.
Undoubtedly, the acquisition of the 26-year-old, now valued at £92 million according to Transfermarkt, has proven to be an extraordinary success, establishing him as one of the standout players of the Edu era.
Edu’s best and worst signings at Arsenal
Arsenal’s Brazilian transfer chief made the unexpected choice to resign from his position at the club earlier in the season. The 46-year-old is reportedly set to collaborate with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, overseeing a number of clubs owned by the Greek entrepreneur.
The former Gunners midfielder leaves behind a mixed legacy at the Emirates Stadium. He worked alongside Mikel Arteta to develop a team capable of contending for the Premier League title, although the north London club has yet to achieve this goal.
One of Edu’s notable successes since his arrival in 2019 is the acquisition of William Saliba, who was brought in during Edu’s first summer in charge and subsequently secured a place in Arteta’s plans for the 2022/23 season.
Edu was also instrumental in the signing of Saliba’s current center-back partner, Gabriel, with the pair now regarded as the “best partnership in Europe” by club legend Martin Keown.
Additionally, Edu deserves credit for the audacious decision to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea. The German player has since overcome a slow start to net 29 goals across all competitions. The signing of Jurrien Timber from Ajax is also highlighted as “one of the best signings of the Emirates era.”
Despite these achievements, there have been several missteps. Gabriel Jesus has not made the anticipated impact since his transfer from Manchester City, having scored only 26 goals in 96 appearances to date.
Similarly, the £34.2 million signing of Fabio Vieira has seen him return to Porto on loan, while the Gunners were adversely affected by the £72 million acquisition of Nicolas Pepe in the summer of 2019, with the Ivorian managing just 16 goals in the Premier League during his time in the capital.
That high-profile blunder represented a real costly mistake for the north London side, although the club’s newest record arrival has enjoyed a far more fruitful stint so far.
Arsenal’s best signing since Odegaard
Despite Odegaard’s exceptional talent, the former Madrid player has faced a challenging season, managing to score only two goals and provide four assists in the league so far.
With the captain facing difficulties, the Gunners have sought alternative sources of inspiration to guide the team. This is where Declan Rice comes into play.
Following the recent victory against Chelsea, podcaster Adam Keys referred to him as an “incredible leader” within the squad. Since his £105 million transfer from West Ham United in 2023, the Englishman has become a significant asset in Arteta’s lineup.
| Declan Rice – PL record at Arsenal | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Games | 38 | 27 |
| Goals | 7 | 2 |
| Assists | 8 | 5 |
| Big chances created | 9 | 15 |
| Pass accuracy* | 91% | 90% |
| Key passes* | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| Tackles* | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Interceptions* | 1.2 | 0.7 |
| Dribbled past* | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Total duels won* | 52% | 52% |
| Aerial duels won* | 46% | 57% |
| Possession lost* | 8.7 | 10.3 |
| Stats via Sofascore | ||
Although a substantial price tag can often weigh heavily on a player, the Three Lions star has embraced the challenge, appearing to thrive in his central role, whether as a number eight or a number six.
With a commendable tally of 13 goals and assists this season, it is noteworthy that Rice does not occupy a position in the club’s attacking line. Pundit Jamie Carragher has emphasized that the former Chelsea youth player should not be evaluated solely on his offensive contributions, as his passing ability is also “vastly underrated.”
Rice is a significant asset in set-piece situations, ranking in the top 6% of European midfielders for assists per 90 minutes. Additionally, his capacity to propel Arteta’s team forward is remarkable, placing him in the top 5% for progressive carries per 90 minutes.
Moreover, he has demonstrated his capability to deliver in critical moments, as evidenced by his impressive strike against Manchester United last weekend, which helped secure a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Such instances highlight how quickly Rice has justified his substantial transfer fee, leading to the argument that Edu may have secured a favorable deal.
David Moyes has even suggested that the midfield talent could have commanded a fee of at least £150 million.
While there are certainly more prominent figures in Arteta’s current squad, such as Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri, Rice serves as the essential component that unifies the team.
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