“I didn’t anticipate him being this important” - Rio Ferdinand talks up 25-year-old Arsenal star

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has waxed lyrical about Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard. He admitted that the Norway international is arguably the most important player in Mikel Arteta’s setup.

Odegaard has established himself as one of the key figures for the Gunners in the past couple of seasons. He initially joined the north London club on loan from Real Madrid in the 2020-21 season, before completing a permanent move the following season.

At the start of the 2022-23 campaign, Odegaard was named captain by Arteta, becoming the club’s youngest captain (aged 23) since Cesc Fabregas. With the Norwegian leading the team on the pitch, Arsenal have become genuine title contenders, finishing as runners-up for the past two seasons.

The 25-year-old suffered a severe ankle injury while on duty for Norway in September and has not played since. In his absence, the Gunners have struggled with creativity in the attacking third. With no one to fill his shoes, they have managed three wins in seven league games since his last appearance, and are winless in their previous three outings.

The club's decline in performance since Odegaard's injury has emphasized his importance to the team, a point that Rio Ferdinand has acknowledged. In a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the former Manchester United defender admitted that he did not foresee Odegaard becoming the key player in Arteta's team.

He said (via Arsenal Insider):

“I didn’t anticipate him being this important. I think he’s a top player and he’s pivotal to what Arsenal do. I think he has probably gone down and will look like the most important player to be missed in this team, Odegaard.

“Other players you can bring in – a centre-half can stop chances here and there – but one of the hardest things to do in a gem is score goals and before that, you have to create opportunities.”

Ferdinand continued:

“He is the tempo-maker in the team, he helps you retain the ball better than anyone else in the team and then it’s about that bit of magic at the end to create the chance.

“I keep seeing people saying, “It’s a no.9 [that Arsenal need]”. You’re not creating chances. You can have the best number nine there but you’re still not getting the ball to him,” he concluded.

Martin Odegaard has scored 35 goals and provided 25 assists in 156 games across competitions for Arsenal.

When is Martin Odegaard expected back in action for Arsenal?

The Norwegian last played for the Gunners in their Premier League match-day three draw (1-1) with Brighton & Hove Albion in August.

He has since recovered from the injury and recently resumed training with the squad. Odegaard was not named in the team for his side's league clash with Newcastle over the weekend. However, according to reports, he could be in contention for their UEFA Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Wednesday, October 6.

It remains to be seen if Mikel Arteta would name Odegaard in the starting XI against the Italian outfit or give him a cameo in the clash.