Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has made a claim that could surprise a few people.
The Norway international is one of the best playmakers in the world. He has been unbelievable for the Gunners since he joined them on a permanent deal in 2021.
Odegaard isn’t just a great footballer himself but he has rubbed shoulders with some of the greatest players of this generation when he was at Real Madrid.
The Arsenal skipper knows a good player when he sees one, and he feels one current teammate at the Emirates is comparable to Lionel Messi.
Martin Odegaard compares Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko to Lionel Messi
Arsenal signed Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 in a £32 million deal (Sky Sports).
The Ukraine international was viewed as a solid addition at the time and he had an immediate impact.
Zinchenko, along with Gabriel Jesus, raised the level of Arsenal’s young squad and instantly made them challenge for the Premier League title.
The versatile left-back didn’t have the greatest 2023/24 season. He came under a lot of criticism for some of his defending and he made a couple of mistakes against Liverpool in pre-season too.
However, Zinchenko is still very highly rated by his teammates.
Everyone in the Arsenal squad knows just how good the Ukranian is in possession. Some of the things he can do with the ball at his feet are just a joy to watch.
Odegaard seems really impressed with Zinchenko, so much so that he has likened him to Messi!
In an interview on ESPN, Odegaard was asked to describe some of his teammates using just one word. When Zinchenko’s name was promoted, the Arsenal captain replied: “Messi!”
Zinchenko’s future may have just been decided
Zinchenko’s Arsenal future has been up in the air for a while now.
The Ukrainian had a poor second season at the club, and following the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, many felt he was surplus to requirements.
Reports even claimed that Zinchenko was put on the ‘chopping’ block by Arsenal, but it looks like that stance has changed.
The Gunners announced on Tuesday that Zinchenko has changed his shirt number from 35 to 17 ahead of the start of the 2024/25 season.
That all but confirms that the former Manchester City man will be staying at the Emirates beyond the end of this summer’s transfer window.
