Paul Merson names Arsenal ‘difference maker’ who is equal to Man City star Rodri

Paul Merson has claimed ‘difference maker’ Martin Odegaard holds the aforesaid level of value astatine Arsenal arsenic Rodri does astatine Manchester City.

Rodri recently clinched the 2024 Ballon d’Or – which is awarded annually to the champion subordinate successful satellite shot – for his heroics with some City and Spain.

The Spanish midfielder was ruled retired for the play successful September aft picking up a superior genu wounded and galore pundits person stated that City are not the aforesaid squad erstwhile Rodri is unavailable.

Arsenal fable Merson feels it is simply a akin concern astatine Arsenal erstwhile they person been forced to play without their midfield skipper Odegaard.

The Norwegian missed 7 Premier League games successful a enactment for Arsenal this word with an ankle contented – but played the past 2 matches – providing assists successful the gully with Chelsea and triumph implicit Nottingham Forest.

Quizzed connected Sky Sports if Arsenal were backmost to their champion aft a wobble, Merson said: ‘Yeah, the past 2 games.

‘They were outstanding against Nottingham Forest erstwhile they needed to be. They conscionable dropped it down into 2nd gear, but they were outstanding.

‘A superb show against Sporting Lisbon. Martin Odegaard makes the difference.

‘We speech astir Man City and Rodri. It’s the aforesaid with Odegaard. Odegaard makes things happen.

‘He knits it unneurotic for them. He brings the champion retired of Bukayo Saka arsenic good – adjacent much retired of him – fixed helium is already an astonishing player.

‘Declan Rice, with Thomas Partey sitting successful beforehand of the backmost four, helium tin weaponry on.

‘They’ve got 4 very, precise bully defenders. A bully goalkeeper. They’re a bully squad – but they person got to enactment fit. As agelong arsenic they enactment fit, Arsenal volition beryllium connected a roll.’

The Gunners are adjacent successful enactment connected Saturday with a travel to the London Stadium to look West Ham.

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