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Arsenal have a number of players who are capable of producing magic on the pitch.
Mikel Arteta has built a terrific squad over the years, and that finally helped him win the Premier League title in the 2025/26 season. The Gunners thoroughly deserved it too.
The aim for everyone at Arsenal is to repeat that feat this season while also going a step further in the Champions League. For that to happen, they need their top players to step up and deliver.
One of them is Martin Odegaard, and he has received some big praise now.
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Steven Gerrard is one of the greatest midfielders of all time.
The Liverpool legend played in all three central midfield positions during his time as a player, and he was incredible in every single role. He is definitely among the best ever.
Gerrard knows what it takes to be an elite midfielder, and he has noticed something in Odegaard that seems to have really impressed him.
The Englishman hailed Odegaard’s magic and named him as a player who offers something different to every Arsenal teammate when he is on the pitch.
Gerrard said on TNT Sports during their coverage of Arsenal vs Lille in the Champions League: “I don’t think that he’s the most vocal, but he leads in a different way with his quality, with his vision, and he gives this group of players something different.
“When they can’t open the door and they are playing against these diligent defensive shapes, he’s that one with a vibe of magic who can find the space and open the door.”
Odegaard has arguably been Arsenal’s best player this season.
The Norway international has looked back to his usual self since the World Cup, and he has made a difference in almost every game since this campaign began.
Against Lille, Odegaard started the game on the bench, and unsurprisingly, Arsenal failed to create much going forward without him, especially in the first half.
Once the skipper came on, everything changed. Even though he didn’t score or assist, the Gunners suddenly looked a lot more dangerous and scored twice in six minutes after he was introduced.
Odegaard also created two chances and maintained a 93 per cent passing accuracy, thus proving Gerrard right. (Sofascore)