Martin Odegaard's 72nd-minute strike secured Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Hull City, and Paul Merson believes the midfielder has been 'like a new signing' this season. The reigning Premier League champions moved six points clear at the top of the table after Manchester City lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest.
Newly promoted Hull frustrated the Emirates crowd for much of the game, with Declan Rice coming close on three occasions and Noni Madueke denied by goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. The pressure finally told as Tzolakis again kept out Madueke, only for Odegaard to react first and poke home the rebound.
Merson praises Odegaard's impact
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Arsenal and England midfielder said: 'You know Hull are going to sit ten behind the ball and make it very difficult. If you score early, you just go on and then win 3-0 or 4-0 and it would be a nice day at the office. That didn't happen.'
'Hull defended very well and it took Martin Odegaard to break them down if I'm being honest. Noni Madueke comes inside, hits a shot, it gets parried… he's the first one to react and there's two defenders in front of him, about four or five yards in front of him, but because of his reaction, he runs past them, he hits it, there's a slight deflection and it goes underneath the goalkeeper's arms.'
Odegaard's standout season
Merson felt Tzolakis was the man of the match, adding: 'Arsenal weren't great but they won and this could be one of those games you look back on at the end of the season and go, "Remember the Hull game when we nicked it at the end", but yeah, Hull will come away and think they did alright. For me, the goalkeeper was the man of the match for Hull so that tells you everything.'
The winning goal took Odegaard's tally to five in all competitions this season, compared to just one in 36 appearances last term. Merson said of the captain: 'He's been outstanding. He's the only one really that moves it quickly. He moves it quickly, he moves, he gets into positions. I just thought too many players took too many touches and they slowed it down and gave Hull half a chance. I think he's been outstanding this season, he's like a new signing for them and he's been the man so far. Not great but just a good result for Arsenal. But again, he was one of the stars of the show.'
What's next for Arsenal
Arsenal return to Premier League action against Newcastle at St James' Park in a week's time, followed by a Champions League clash at home to Borussia Dortmund three days later, before hosting Manchester City in the league.
