Burnwinter wrote:

Øde's second goal was a good example of the player he can become, the type who's both quick, but also seems quicker because of discipline and reading of the play.

A fair few players wouldn't have even tried to control and tried hitting it first time. He showed great awareness.

Burnwinter wrote:

Øde's second goal was a good example of the player he can become, the type who's both quick, but also seems quicker because of discipline and reading of the play.

Positioning: he moves to hover around the penalty spot almost programmatically, presumably as part of one of our "automatisms". Execution: he uses the time and space he's got to control the rebound out from Jose Sa in a pragmatic rather than spectacular fashion, and makes that drilled and precise low drive just inside the near post look easy.

There have been many moments this season where similar opportunities didn't go so smoothly for him, but it seems there's an evolution he may undergo after which this'll be bread and butter.

Thats the thing, its clear he has another level he can go up. In fact thats true for a lot of the team, which is saying something given our form.

a month later

Quality player. Just watched him outperform all game and didn't even really celebrate it, he's still not perfectly consistent, but the level he invites you to expect is extremely high.

    KDB is the only playmaker in the league playing above this chap. His dribbling and passing in small spaces is exceptional so many good passes. He had a ridiculous throughball to Xhaka which was ruined only by the West Ham defender clipping Xhaka’s heels, else was an easy shot for the Swiss. Lots of good shots as well by Ode.

    I’m still shook there was a debate about whether we should get him, and then whether we should get him or Buendia

      Claudius Don't think the debate for us was either him or Buendia Claude.

      At the time we were chasing Buendia, who by the way looked a potentially really good player back then, it seemed Real had no intention of letting Ode go.

      We failed on a bid for Buendia, Villa stepped in and people weren't happy. The Ode transfer possibility became real later on in the window.

      I don't think that many people were all that fussed by Beundia anyway save for a couple who were really big on him.

      The big debate was Maddison vs Ode and I have to admit on being on the wrong side of that one and that's even if you ignore that he cost less than half the amount of the former. Not that Maddison isn't also very good, but it's no contest anymore, the latter is one of those very rare footballers that do not come around very often, and when they do (Modric, Silva etc.) they end up being very influential in winning sides.

        goon I don't think that many people were all that fussed by Beundia anyway save for a couple who were really big on him.

        True. Think more the reason for some being upset was because it seemed like Buendia was our first choice at the start of the summer especially after that early bid, and in the end we lost out, making it seem we might not get someone else in. Thank fuck we did miss out on him though because I'm not sure we'd have gotten Ode if we signed Buendia.

        One of the good things about this regime has been patience in the transfer market. We no longer just grab guys cos we can. We are willing to wait and spend big on the guys we want. Much less unnecessary recycling of talent. I think Willian is the one big debacle but he is also pre reset.

        Claudius KDB is at alien levels currently. he seems to be following the bergkamp trajectory where his technical quality and in-game intuition goes to another level as his physical abilities start to wane

        as for ode, love him. I understand why there were some niggling doubts about whether he could be a player that takes things by the scruff, but the way he played against the hammers showed how diligently he's been working during the break. he led the team beautifully

          I never saw him that way either, but I'm starting to see him do things that suggest he might have some more strings to his bow as he gets a bit older

          Gazza M but the way he played against the hammers

          tbf he loves playing against them. His best game for us in his loan spell was against them as well.

          Clrnc

          Bergkamp and Zidane were more elegant players, but KDB's vision and passing ability is unmatched. It's not even close. And that is coming from someone who absolutely loved both Zidane and Bergkamp.

            Mikel says he needs to improve physically. I never realised how scrawny he was. 178cm and 70kg? Has to rely too much on technical ability to hold onto the ball.

              Kel Varnsen DB10's vision was special, specifically in shorter distances like when he fed Freddie against Juve at home.

              That type of pass was the Bergkamp Special to me.

              But KDB is more complete and can create from all distances and angles. Agree with @Clrnc that he's mechanical though, but many modern players are.

                banduan that isn't too bad tbh
                I'm 188 and weighed 63kg when I was 22/23. He'll bulk up or get fatter as he ages haha.

                Really finding consistency at a high level now.

                • est likes this.

                Phenomenal tonight. There was a moment at the start of the 2nd half where he sucked three Brighton players into a press, avoided them and switched the play in Messi like fashion.

                He’s playing at a level we’ve rarely seen at Arsenal in 20 odd years.

                  Keep watching that Odegaard goal on replay. What a fucking finish. Unbelievable really.

                  James Your last sentence nailed it for me.

                  In the grand scheme of things, a performance against Brighton may get lost in the dozens of games we play but Ode reached a world class level tonight. One of the best performances I’ve seen in a long time from an Arsenal player

                  Only regret is Martinelli not finishing that attempted assist from Odegaard. It was a shame. Unfortunate such world class moments can get forgotten.

                  Wenger on Odegaard:

                  'It was difficult [trying to convince Odegaard to sign for Arsenal].'

                  ‘I talked to him when he was 15-years-old. I actually spoke with him about it after the game on Boxing Day.'

                  ‘I was desperate to sign him. Luckily he is here now. He is really like a young Cesc Fabregas. I think he has developed to become a complete player.'

                  ‘He is complete. I like him in every way in the game. Defensively and offensively.'

                  ‘He makes decisions quickly, and always optimally. It is remarkable! I like him, and the way he makes football look easy.'

                  []https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/31/arsene-wenger-lauds-martin-odegaard-and-compares-him-to-ex-arsenal-man-18018842/https://)

                    This is an incredible player. I keep saying this, but we have the elite playmaking talent for the next decade in the league. His combination of vision, skill and workrate is unlike anything I’ve seen at this team

                    James
                    I think it comes down to this idea that he couldn’t score. If folks did t see goals and assists they assumed he was doing nothing. Advanced metrics showed that he was very influential even before the G/A numbers rose

                      what a supreme player we have here. one thing which has helped him go up a gear is he now has the timing of epl football ingrained in him. he almost never gets blind sided by a rushing defender or press, which would happen more often in the earlier part of him arsenal career. when a player with his quality and vision locks into a rhythm like this, they're very hard to stop. he looks composed in all match situations now, which allows him to take riskier passing options as well

                      As one of the few who wishlisted him when he was 15, it behooves me to brag about it now (this is one of the posts on my way home from a night out).

                      Clrnc that pass is already assist of the season for me. KDB has one close to that but not quite the speed of thought and distance.

                      Glad Martinelli was selfish and earned Ode the assist

                      • Daz replied to this.

                        James

                        Guilty. Though I rate Maddison highly. I think both could play alongside each other.

                        Odegaard has raised his level since then though. Great to see. It’s almost as if he’s just realising how good he is or can be and he’s starting to be more courageous - we’re now seeing a lot more penetration particularly when running with the ball

                          Will there be a PL player of the month award for December?

                          So glad he's proved me wrong. I was concerned he'd be regularly swallowed up in the bigger games, and that his vision and creativity was "pretty good" at best.

                          He's pulling out the tricks in addition to the beautiful through-balls now, at an elite playmaking level.

                          lorddulaarsenal

                          Ødegaard was always the clearly most talented player of the two. He just needed confidence and consistency.

                          Claudius nah it wasn't that, I really liked Ode and was chuffed when we eventually signed him. So appreciated what he brought to the table. But yeah, the G/A that Maddison brought to the table was what swung it for me, because at the time it was something we were severely lacking in.