18 September 2023 , 13:12
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Gary Neville has waxed lyrical over Martin Odegaard and believes Pep Guardiola would take him in a "heartbeat" at Manchester City.
Odegaard, 24, impressed once again for the Gunners as they continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 victory over Everton on Sunday. Leandro Trossard's second-half strike proved to be the difference as Arsenal recorded their fourth win from five Premier League matches.
After the game, Neville heaped praise on Odegaard for his role in the Gunners' win and how well he has been performing of late. The Norway international has scored two goals this season, including the winner at Crystal Palace and the opener in the win against Manchester United earlier this month.
Neville told Sky Sports: "Odegaard, it takes a lot to say this but when you think of the most beautiful football players that we've watched in the last seven or eight years in the Premier League I always think of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne being just something you watch and you're like that's the way to play football.
"Odegaard, I'm not saying he’s as good as De Bruyne or Silva yet, I think he's got a bit to go in his career, but he's getting to a point whereby now when I watch him play it is so smooth, it's so silky.
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"I knew he was always a talented player but we’re now talking about something that is very different and just so talented, this is real class. I think he now starts to be mentioned in the realms. Pep Guardiola, if you said could take one Arsenal player out of this Arsenal team I think he'd take him in an absolute heartbeat.
Martin Odegaard has impressed for Arsenal (Getty Images)"He would break into that Manchester City team because he's a beautiful player to watch. Every time I watch him he gets better and better. Arsenal must recognise what they have, I'm talking about the Arsenal players who must feed him as much as they possibly can. The more he gets on the ball in the final third the more football matches, assists and goals they'll have in matches."
It's a majorly bold claim from Neville considering the quality City have at their disposal. Although Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out for the foreseeable with a hamstring issue, Guardiola has Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes and Julian Alvarez amongst others who can play in the no.8 or no.10 positions.
As for Odegaard, he scored an impressive 15 Premier League goals for Arsenal last season as the Gunners came close to lifting the title. The ex-Real Madrid playmaker will be hoping to replicate his form in the Champions League when Arsenal return to the competition to face PSV on Wednesday.