Arsenal: Martin Keown beat “First Division” Martin Odegaard and Leeds

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Martin Keown hails Martin Odegaard after Arsenal’s victory over Leeds United (Image: BBC)

Martin Keown praised first-tier Martin Odegaard after Arsenal’s routine Premier League win over Leeds United and said the Norway international was doing better.

Arsenal put in a superb first-half display at Elland Road on Saturday night, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring twice and Bukayo Saka once to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

Exhausted Leeds improved after the break – Ravenha’s penalty briefly gave the hosts hope before Emile Smith-Roy added Arsenal’s fourth – but it was a comfortable and impressive win for Mikel Arteta’s side as they cemented their grip on fourth place.

Arsenal legend Keown was impressed by his former team’s performance and dedicated Odegaard to the praise, insisting that the former Real Madrid star had proven him wrong since his arrival in the Emirates.

“I will say that when he first came to the club, I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I have to change that opinion now because he is already developing,” Keown said of Odegaard in today’s match on BBC.

“You see that clever movement he has to have to receive the ball, he was a top-tier player in Arsenal’s midfield.

Keown admits the Arsenal star has been proven wrong (Image: Getty)

“He is growing in stature. His confidence is really high, the manager has supported him. For me he is just getting better and better.

With none of their top-four rivals playing due to COVID-19 delays, Arsenal are currently four points ahead of fifth-placed West Ham and five points behind Manchester United in sixth.

“This is putting pressure on them,” Arteta said. “We were really lucky to play today with everything that’s going on.

“I asked the players to enjoy the game and give everything because I don’t know how that will develop.”

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli scored twice in Elland Road’s win (Image: GETTY)

The Arsenal coach added: “It has been a really difficult week but really positive with the performance and the results. We must be happy today.

They had to play the most physical team in the league and they had to be prepared. We had a nightmare to come to the hotel.

‘that they [the young players] They learn and make a difference in the game. Big players play a big role, too.

This is what it is [Martinelli] He can. He has reached maturity. He is willing to learn. His passion for life is football. You can see it on the field.

More: Arsenal

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