Manchester United v Liverpool - Legends of the North
Bryan Robson is a huge fan of Arsenal’s captain Martin Odegaard (Picture: Getty)
Bryan Robson has heaped praise on Martin Odegaard and believes the Arsenal star deserves to be regarded as the best player in the Premier League.
The Gunners captain has been an instrumental figure in the progress Mikel Arteta’s side have made in recent seasons.
Although major silverware has continued to evade Arsenal, their status as one of Europe’s current powerhouses has been firmly cemented with their run to last season’s Champions League semi final evidence of their growing stature.
Odegaard has married his creative talents with a work rate and ingenuity rarely seen in a player of his ilk. His quiet leadership style has been criticised by former Arsenal skipper Tony Adams, but Robson admires the way the Norway international leads by example.
‘I like Odegaard at Arsenal (as a modern-day comparison). Declan Rice as well. I don’t think Declan can score as many goals but Odegaard got that tackling ability as well.
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‘I think Odegaard is as good as anybody,’ the former United skipper told OLBG. ‘He’s an excellent player, has got a great attitude, so I’d probably say in the Premier League at the moment, he would be the best.
‘Then in my later career, Rodri I feel is a little bit like me as well because he protects the back four great and in my last four or five years, Sir Alex always wanted me to do that.
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
Martin Odegaard has been a key player for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)
‘He wanted me to sit and let the young lads like Giggs, Kanchelskis, Incy and them get forward while I’d always try and protect the back four. I think Rodri is excellent at doing that.’
Even without Odegaard, who is currently nursing a shoulder injury, Arsenal are blessed with alternative options in the form of Ethan Nwaneri, Eberechi Eze or more defensive options such as Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino.
United’s cupboard is relatively empty by by comparison which makes Ruben Amorim’s treatment of Kobbie Mainoo all the more confusing.
The England international is struggling to win a place in United’s engine room and asked to leave his boyhood club on loan late in the summer transfer window in order to gain regular football.
Robson has been left dumbfounded by Amorim’s reluctance to utilise Mainoo and hopes the youngster isn’t allowed to leave Old Trafford in the near future.
He said: ‘Back in my days, Paul Ince was an underrated player and great to play with because Ince was quick, he could tackle, he was a really good passer of the ball and I think Ince was a very underrated player.
Manchester United v Burnley - Premier League
Kobbie Mainoo has struggled to win a place in Man Utd’s midfield under Ruben Amorim (Picture: Getty)
‘Why he was underrated is because the United fans were not pleased that he fell out with Sir Alex and then he went to Inter and he came back and played for Liverpool, so all the Man United fans didn’t like that, a Man United player who’s done really well going to Liverpool.
‘I definitely do (think Mainoo could be the next Ince). When I heard that Mainoo might be leaving the club, I was really against it.
‘I think he’s a real talent. Last year, he had quite a few injuries and couldn’t get going but the year before that, he was outstanding and he looked as if he had great potential.
‘As long as he keeps his feet on the ground and works really hard at it, he could be a really good player.
‘I know he’s more attacking but Mainoo can do the defending if you put it on him, and that’s what he’s got to do. He’s got to get his overall game a little bit more established and then I think he would go really well with Bruno being the more advanced midfield player.’
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