Mikel Arteta opens up on Martin Odegaard ‘lost battle’ after Lionel Messi claim

Arsenal formally confirmed the signing of Martin Odegaard from Actual Madrid on Wednesday, with the midfielder introduced in on mortgage till the top of the present marketing campaign.

The 22-year-old impressed on mortgage at Actual Sociedad final season however he has struggled for game-time at Madrid, making simply 9 appearances earlier than becoming a member of the Gunners.

Odegaard made his debut for Madrid on the age of 16 and earned comparisons to Barcelona famous person Lionel Messi.

Nevertheless, his profession has stalled on the Bernabeu after being despatched out on mortgage to Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem and Sociedad and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes comparisons to Messi had been all the time going to be “a misplaced battle”.

Talking at his pre-match press convention forward of Arsenal’s sport towards Manchester United on Saturday, Arteta stated: “I would not even recommend anybody might get near [Messi] as a result of it is a misplaced battle, for my part.

“Martin is Martin and I feel in the previous few seasons he is progressed and developed in the suitable method. I’ve adopted him very intently as a result of he performed for Actual Sociedad, which is my hometown.

“I do know him very well. I have been actually impressed. He is a such a expertise. He wants the suitable setting, he wants a little bit little bit of time however I feel he is received the qualities to be successful for us.

“He is a specialist to play within the pockets, to play within the No 8 or 10 positions. He can play off the edges. He is a very artistic participant who’s actually comfy on the ball in tight areas.

“He has the capability to create possibilities and to attain objectives. One thing that he has improved quite a bit is his work-rate with out the ball as properly, so it is another choice to present us extra creativity for certain within the closing third, and provides us extra choices to arrange in numerous methods towards sure groups.”