Garth Crooks praises Martin Odegaard as Arsenal run out 6-0 winners against Sheffield United
BBC pundit Garth Crooks has showered praise on Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard following his performance as the Gunners ran out 6-0 winners against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last night.
The visitors were 5-0 up at the end of half-time after the Norwegian had put them ahead five minutes into the game, and the result will give the North Londoners huge belief after keeping the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City on the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal stars were in fine form last night, but it was Odegaard who ran the show and Crooks has explained why he picked only him in his Team of the Week column.
“Arsenal had cut Sheffield United open on two occasions in the 6-0 win on Monday before Martin Odegaard scored their opening goal,” he wrote in his BBC column.
“The ball he then sent to Gabriel Martinelli from inside his own half was sensational and a statement of intent if ever I saw one. Arsenal were 3-0 up in a matter of 15 minutes, Sheffield United had made their first substitution and home fans were streaming out of Bramall Lane in droves.
“Arsenal were brutal, Bukayo Saka was having the time of his life and by the time the Gunners were 5-0 up Sheffield United were praying for the half-time whistle. This was a walk in the park for the visitors and I could have selected anyone in an Arsenal shirt, but the star of the show was Odegaard and that’s why he’s in my team.”
The 25-year-old has now bagged six goals and six assists in 24 Premier League appearances so far in 2023-24, and he has fully stepped up following a slow start to the campaign, with two goals and three assists to his name in his last four league games.
Arsenal return to action when they host Brentford on Saturday, and they could end next weekend as league leaders if Liverpool and Man City play out a draw at Anfield on Sunday.
With 11 games remaining in the campaign, Odegaard and co know they cannot afford to drop any points during the title run-in if they want to win the top prize, and it appears they have no plans to going by their performance on Monday night.
