'One of the best I've ever seen': Declan Rice says £220k-a-week Arsenal player is truly 'out of this world'

04/05/2024 08:15

Arsenal have gone from strength to strength in recent years and are now one of the best teams in the Premier League.

When Mikel Arteta took the Gunners reins, they were languishing in mid-table. Now, they’re sitting top of the standings with just three games left.

It wasn’t an easy job, but Arteta has overhauled his entire squad, turning it into a talented, hungry and well-drilled outfit with a bright future.

Arsenal's stand-out signing last season was Declan Rice, who joined from West Ham in a deal reportedly worth £105million.

The England international has been so good since joining the Gunners that he's almost making his high transfer fee a bargain.

Another great signing Arsenal have made – also in midfield – is Martin Odegaard, who has very much fulfilled his potential at the Emirates Stadium.

Odegaard moved to Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2021 and has become a key player for the Gunners, as well as becoming captain.

Now, speaking to TNT Sports, Rice has sung Odegaard’s praises, saying he is one of the best players he has ever seen.

What has Declan Rice said about Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard?

“If you look at (iconic Arsenal captains) Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, like hard-hitting centre-half / midfielders. Martin is just an out-of-this-world No. 10, he's so special,” Rice said.

“But he knows what it's like to play for this club. He was here in the tough times and now he's come through that and he's arguably one of the best players in the Premier League this season and the last few years.

“He just makes something happen out of nothing. He’s probably the best trainer, he’s just so elegant. Just everything down to the way he lives his life, how he treats this game as a profession, he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Martin Odegaard has what it takes to become an Arsenal legend

Odegaard has come a long way since joining Arsenal in 2021. The £220,000-a-week star is not only living up to his potential, but exceeding it.

Things didn't quite go to plan for him at Real Madrid, and for a while there were some real worries that he wasn't going to achieve his potential.

This all changed after Odegaard joined Arsenal, initially on loan and then permanently for £30million. The rest is history, and hopefully he can go on to make history with the Gunners.