After an enormously overwhelming season 2020/21, the upcoming campaign is make or break for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal project.
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Although the jury is still out on the Spaniard, the club is set to support him strongly in the transfer window. Confirmation of Ben White’s arrival is imminent and the Gunners have already secured the young couple Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares for modest charges.
Next on Arteta’s shopping list is an attacking midfielder. James Maddison is their main goal, although the club has not given up the idea of signing Martin Odegaard permanently after his loan period last season.
Smith Rowe needs some help / Steve Welsh / Getty Images
Arsenal are keen to give Emile Smith Rowe significant playing time this season. The Youth Academy’s graduation was one of the only highlights of their 2020/21 campaign and he was recently awarded jersey number 10 and a new long-term contract.
But as exciting a talent as Smith Rowe is, Arsenal still need further reinforcements in midfield. Mesut Ozil, Dani Ceballos and Odegaard have all resigned recently, creating a creative shortage in north London.
That’s why Arsenal are looking for someone to play right behind the striker in their favored 4-2-3-1 formation. All of the classic attacking midfield attributes on the ball would be desirable, such as penetrating passing, sight and dribbling ability.
Without the ball, the requirements would not be as strict as for some Premier League teams with Arteta’s Arsenal not pressing so intensely so far.
Maddison missed the end of last season through injury / Tony Marshall / Getty Images
Both Maddison and Odegaard are skilled passers-by who excel at both reclaiming possession and carving open defenses with probing through balls.
In recent seasons, there has been plenty of evidence to support this. During this period, Maddison has averaged about five progressive sessions per 90 minutes. Odegaard has done even better and topped over seven progressive passes during his impressive 2019/20 season on the La Liga surprise package Real Sociedad.
He also has an advantage over Maddison in completing the pass. To say that in the last two seasons he has benefited from playing for teams that like to turn around in the last third – maybe in some cases too much.
The assistance efforts are also quite close. In fact, it is completely even with both players registering eight in the league during the last two periods. Each player is also a skilled player.
Assessment: Odegaard (just)
Odegaard has some bright moments last season / Dan Mullan / Getty Images
Both players are attractive and effective to the same extent with the ball at their feet.
When we examined the two players’ heat maps for last season, Maddison appeared everywhere, a proof of his tendency to pick the ball and drive in wherever there is room. Odegaard was also fluent with his dribbling but used to spend more of his time exploring the right half space.
In terms of numbers, he has tended to be more productive than Maddison as well, and best him for progressive distance per 90 minutes in each of the last two seasons. To say that the Leicester man managed more successful dribbles last semester.
Another advantage that Maddison has is his ability to win fouls. He loves to take the ball halfway and wait for contact, much like Jack Grealish who he has been compared to before. Not that an extra free kick would help Arsenal that much, unless they seriously improved their record.
Assessment: Draw
Maddison had a fantastic season in front of goal last time / Pool / Getty Images
During his club career, Maddison has been much more productive than Odegaard, with an average of 0.11 more goals per 90 minutes than the Norwegian.
Although he has spent more of his career at lower levels – by defeating Coventry and Aberdeen before signing for Leicester – Maddison seems to be developing into a deadly finisher.
Last term, he managed eight Premier League goals and some of them were absolute stunners. He specializes in runs outside the box and is also a real threat from free kicks.
Odegaard has been just as impressive in front of the goal before. He scored eight Eredvisie goals for Vitesse 2018/19, of which only one was a penalty. This also included two free kicks.
Again, the two players seem eerily similar in this regard. But Maddison has almost the upper hand for now.
Verdict: Maddison
Maddison is tough from the ball / Marc Atkins / Getty Images
Maddison has sometimes been characterized as a loose playmaker with little time for the defensive side.
This is perhaps unfair as the midfielder plays an important role from the ball from Brendan Rodger’s accusations in recent seasons. He pushes from the front with genuine enthusiasm and often forces sales, although he is also intelligent enough to know when to keep his form.
Thanks to this, he has improved Odegaard in almost every defensive measure during the last two seasons. This includes successful pushes, tackles and blocks.
Odegaard is not a slouch but the ball but he has a while left to go until he is as perfect as Maddison defensively.
Odegaard would be significantly cheaper / Fran Santiago / Getty Images
The fixed point in signing Maddison is how much he would cost Arsenal. The figure reported is £ 60 million, although Leicester could easily insist on more.
They are not pressured to sell, given that he has three years left on his contract, is a key player and Arsenal are not even competing in Europe this season. The only way they can tense if Maddison starts agitating for a move. This seems unlikely as Rodgers’ Leicester project still has many legs.
A deal for Odegaard would be easier. Although he is keen to stay and fight for his place at Real Madrid, the club would listen to offers. Although they are set on a silent transition window to prepare for their attempts to sign Kylian Mbappe next summer, he remains somewhat far down the breeding ground.
Los Blancos is not in good shape financially, which means a bid of between 30 and 50 million pounds would be tempting
Assessment: Odegaard
Excl: #Arsenal are ready to back Mikel Arteta for a sum of £ 250 million this summer, with at least five new signings coming to the Emirates. # AFC’s interest in White, Maddison, Bissouma, Ramsdale & more is merited. [@90min_Football]https://t.co/jX1DGxbRWB
– Toby Cudworth (@Toby_Cudworth) June 18, 2021
Both players would make smart additions to Arteta’s team, but Arsenal’s priority should be to get Maddison.
During the last season’s evidence, he only nuances Odegaard in several important areas. In addition, he fits the club’s recruitment mission – young English players – and would have no adjustment period to life in the Premier League.
If the Maddison agreement is not possible, Arsenal should not hesitate to follow Odegaard. He has much more to offer than his original loan proposal suggests.
