"Such a team player" - Gabriel Martinelli reveals which Arsenal star has impressed him most during training

Arsenal youngster Gabriel Martinelli has revealed the Gunners teammate he has been impressed with the most in training. The 20-year-old Brazilian has lauded Martin Odegaard for his quality and teamwork.

Mikel Arteta's side are having a fine season with qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2017 now a real possibility. They currently sit fourth, three points clear of Tottenham Hotspur, with a game in hand.

There has been an influx of youthful talent into the club under manager Mikel Arteta. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Martinell and Odegaard have lifted Arsenal from obscurity this season and have performed well beyond their years. However, Martinelli singled out the Norwegian when asked about this. He told FourFourTwo (via TBRFootball):

“Definitely Martin. He has so much quality and is such a team player. He’s always chatting to everyone.”

Odegaard first joined Arsenal on loan in the 2020-2021 season from Real Madrid and didn't really stand out in a disappointing campaign for the Gunners. There was a lot of debate among Arsenal fans when Arteta decided to sign the Norway international on a permanent deal last summer.

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison was touted as a potential alternative but the Spanish manager knew he wanted Odegaard (per MirrorSport).

The 23-year-old joined Arsenal for a £31.5 million fee from Real Madrid and has flourished ever since. He has five goals and four assists in 30 appearances across all competitions this season. Odegaard's elegance on the ball and impressive vision has made him a fan favorite among the Emirates faithful.

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Will Real Madrid regret their decision to sell Martin Odegaard to Arsenal?

During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Odegaard managed just 11 appearances.

He was not part of former Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane's plans, with the likes of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric holding down the midfield starting berths.

However, the trio are now reaching the latter stages of their careers. Odegaard's form at Arsenal may leave the La Liga leaders regretting their decision. The Norwegian's loan spell at the north London club was not the first Madrid afforded him due to a lack of game time.

The midfielder has been on loan at Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem and Real Sociedad during his time with Real Madrid.

During his spell with Sociedad, Odegaard certainly showed signs that he was a huge talent. He was directly involved in 16 goals in 36 games across competitions in the 2019-20 season with the club. However, Los Blancos still rejected the opportunity to bed the midfielder into the first team.

Odegaard will continue to have a huge influence on Arsenal and has detailed the plans set out by Arteta when he was signed, saying (via Evening Standard):

“I have never experienced a manager who is so sharp on details and small things in the game. He helps me a lot. I think it’s fascinating and I try to get as many tips as possible. He was very clear on how he saw me as a player, how he could use me and what he could help me with. Ever since then, it has been very good."