logo
logo

Watch: Martin Odegaard stuns with jaw-dropping turn in Arsenal session

Planet Football •

Arsenal fans have been left stunned by a piece of skill that Martin Odegaard unleashed in a pre-season training session in the United States.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently in Baltimore, where they beat Everton 2-0 in a friendly on Sunday with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.

And, judging by the filthy turn he executed in training, Odegaard is almost ready for the upcoming season. The Norway international has impressed at the Emirates Stadium with his trickery and showcased his ability during a pre-season session.

The unfortunate victim of his latest piece of skill was Reuell Walters, a 17-year-old right-back who played 20 minutes of the Everton friendly. He caught the eye of many supporters in that game, showing his confidence wasn’t knocked by Odegaard’s trickery.

In the video, Walters has Odegaard where he wants him, marked tightly on the outside going away from goal. But, in the blink of an eye, the former Real Madrid midfielder turns the tables with a swift bit of footwork which changes the direction of travel by 180 degrees.

Odegaard stops the rolling ball with his left foot before dragging it back in the opposite direction with the inside of his right foot. The move, which looks something like a Cruyff turn, allows him to spin his defender and get to the byline to cross with his right foot.

It’s rumoured that Odegaard will be appointed as club captain following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January and he’s received the backing of team-mate Granit Xhaka.

Speaking in an interview with TV2 back in May, Xhaka revealed that the Norwegian is a highly influential figure in the dressing room.

“He is the future of this club,” Xhaka said.

“He’s already captain when Alexandre Lacazette does not play. He can be very proud of himself. You can see how far he has come in his head, mentally. He is very young, only 23, but in how he behaves and is on the field, he looks like he’s 30. It looks like he has already played 500 or 600 games.”

“He can definitely become Arsenal captain. He has the DNA in him. He works as hard every day as if he were in a fight. He does a lot of extra work. He is humble. Everyone in the dressing room listens to him. Why not?”

More Arsenal

Watch: Gabriel Jesus gets goal and assist for Arsenal in pre-season win

Can you name every player to appear for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta?

Martin Odegaard Arsenal