Arsenal may have given Real Madrid the ultimate insult over Martin Odegaard, the untouchable record breaker in a class of his own

Real Madrid’s discarded wonder boy Martin Odegaard has become Arsenal’s main man, with his £30million fee looking ever more insulting.

Last weekend, he became the first Premier League player since records began in the 2003/04 season to complete 100+ passes [109], create at least five chances [7] and assist multiple goals [2] in the same game as the Gunners trounced West Ham 6-0.

Not a lot a fuss was made about it, a sign of the progress he’s made, but the silky Norwegian was literally untouchable at the London Stadium.

Odegaard backed that up by unleashing the sweetest of left-footed half-volleys in Arsenal's 5-0 demolition of Burnley on Saturday and with 18 months of near flawless attacking midfield wizardry behind him, that level has understandably become the norm. 

So, as Arsenal prepare to re-launch their bid for Champions League glory with a last 16 tie at FC Porto this week, live on talkSPORT, I don’t think there can be any argument that Odegaard is now among Europe's elite. Just like Madrid had hoped, before cashing him in. 

People consistently drool over the magic of Kevin de Bruyne [and I’m not going to argue against the validity of that] but Odegaard is comfortably the Premier League’s next best attacking midfielder. 

His numbers speak volumes. No one plying their trade in the world’s strongest division for instance, has created more chances from open play this season. Just ten shy of the 63 he managed last season [the third best in 2022-23] Odegaard has been disgustingly inventive. 

Over the course of his Premier League career to date, the 25-year-old is creating a chance once every 37 minutes. 

Since the 2003/04 season, Mesut Ozil [every 27 minutes] and Cesc Fabregas [every 32 minutes] are the only Arsenal players