Ray Parlour has likened Martin Odegaard to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp and believes the midfielder should start against Chelsea, even if he is only ’80 per cent’ fit.
Odegaard missed 12 games for Arsenal in all competitions after suffering ankle ligament damage while on international duty with Norway back in September.
It is no coincidence that Arsenal’s poor run of results coincided with Odegaard’s absence, with Mikel Arteta’s men picking up just one point from their last three matches in the Premier League.
On Wednesday night, the Gunners’ disappointing spell continued as they lost to Inter Milan in the Champions League, though Odegaard’s return in the closing stages at least gave the visiting fans something to smile about at the San Siro.
But Arteta has refused to be drawn into speculation over Odegaard’s possible inclusion at Stamford Bridge and it remains to be seen if the Norwegian will be given the nod on Sunday.
‘He’s got the vision, he’s got that creativity,’ ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Parlour said of Odegaard’s importance on talkSPORT.
‘If you look at the midfield area, you’ve got [Thomas] Partey, Declan Rice when he’s playing, [Mikel] Merino’s come into the side as well, very similar players, really.
‘All very good players, don’t get me wrong. I’d like to see Declan get forward a little bit more when Partey plays.
‘But if Odegaard’s in there, he’s that player who takes the ball in tight little situations. He sees a pass, he creates chances.
‘When I watched the Newcastle game, they needed that little bit of creativity because Newcastle were very comfortable sitting in front of the defence. The midfield for Newcastle had done a great job, by the way.
‘He just can bring something else from the team, a little bit different to the other players they’ve got. He’s a big miss, but I don’t know how fit he is and if he’s recovered. If he’s 80 per cent, play him for 70 minutes, I would.’
Having shared a dressing room for nine years with one of Arsenal’s all-time greats in Bergkamp, the Romford Pele sees some of the Dutchman in Arsenal’s skipper.
He added: ‘I look at Bergkamp when I played. I wouldn’t say he [Odegaard] is as good as Bergkamp, but he’s very similar in the way he can see vision and he will create chances.
‘What I’m saying is he can get into little areas, he’s a very clever player. You watch his vision when he puts balls through. He knows where the runs are going to come from.
‘Against Newcastle, I didn’t see that. I didn’t see the creativity from Arsenal’s midfield. That’s what he can bring to the team if he does come back on the weekend.’
Previewing Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea on Sky Sports, Paul Merson agreed with Parlour over Odegaard, urging Arteta to ‘take a chance’ on the former Real Madrid man in west London.
Asked whether Odegaard should be thrown into Arteta’s XI in the derby, Merson replied: ‘I think that comes down to this weekend and the results.
‘Arsenal play second on Super Sunday so they’ll know how Liverpool and City have got on. If they’ve both won then I think Odegaard has got to start the game.
‘Ten and nine points, if both those teams win, that’s a lot of points and, for me, it would be a must-win football match and you take a chance [on Odegaard].
‘Otherwise, what do you do? Do you bring him on for the last 20-30 minutes and then he goes and plays for Norway for a couple of games in seven or eight days? Unless he’s not going away with Norway and then maybe you sort of save him.
‘But if not, I think he’s got to be thrown back in. He’s that important to Arsenal.’
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