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The next Martin Odegaard is on his way to sign for Arsenal in 2027

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Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring for Arsenal vs Chelsea

Published Sep 9, 2026, 7:10 AM GMT+1

Matt specialises in football analysis, transfer insight and original feature writing across the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football.

A sports writer for 15 years, Matt graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in 2018 and has developed particular expertise in Arsenal and the wider Premier League while also reporting on clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and teams across the EFL. He joined Football FanCast as part of its writing team in 2019 before progressing to Assistant Editor and then becoming a Senior Editor in 2021.

His work combines authoritative reporting with data-led analysis, tactical insight and informed transfer assessment. Matt regularly examines how players fit into different systems, what their underlying numbers reveal about their performances and whether transfer targets represent realistic solutions for clubs. His analysis aims to go beyond the headline, explaining not just what has happened but what it means for a team, manager or player.

Matt's journalism has also appeared through the Press Association, with his work featured by Sky Sports and the Daily Mail. He previously served as Arsenal and Premier League Editor at VAVEL and gained first-hand club-media experience with Chesterfield FC. Over his career, he has interviewed figures including Arsène Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton. Matt's voice has been heard across Arsenal Fan TV and Love Sport Radio.

Through his reporting, analysis and features, Matt brings readers credible football insight grounded in research, statistics, tactical understanding and years of experience covering the professional game.

Today, Matt leads Football FanCast's features team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's opinion coverage while helping shape its overall editorial standards and content strategy.

Oh Martin Odegaard, how we have missed you. The Arsenal skipper is back at his best and the Gunners look a much better team for it.

The Norwegian will be the first to tell you that he has slipped below his usual levels in recent years. He was so below par last term that he only scored once.

Well, he's started the new season with aplomb. He is the form player in the Premier League, having scored three goals in his first four matches, including the Community Shield.

His goal against Manchester City oozed class, sitting down Gianluigi Donnarumma before stroking the ball home. There was a bit more fortune against Coventry, bundling the ball into the net but there was nothing flukey about his display versus Chelsea on Sunday; he was first-class.

How Odegaard dominated Chelsea

There are few better sights in football than an in-form Odegaard. He's a pure artist, some of the things he can do with a football are spell-binding. How supporters were wrong to write him off.

Coming into the summer, there were tentative suggestions that he could leave the Emirates Stadium behind. Well, he has taken that personally.

After playing a starring role for Norway at the World Cup, he has returned to English shores and lit up the Premier League. His Man of the Match award against Chelsea on Sunday was richly deserved.

Odegaard scored a beautiful goal, connecting with Christos Tzolis' pass and then slamming the ball home but his display was about much more than that.

Indeed, with his 66 touches of the football - the second highest of any Arsenal player behind Declan Rice - he created four chances. That was the most of any player to feature on Sunday.

Only Rice made more passes overall, while Odegaard was streets ahead for expected assists (xA), registering a jaw-dropping total of 0.88. The next best was fellow goalscorer Kai Havertz with 0.27.

Furthermore, he also registered 0.72 expected goals (xG). This was such a good performance, so good that he is the only player since the start of last season to have recorded over 0.7 non-penalty xG and over 0.7 xA in a single Premier League match.

Odegaard vs Chelsea

Minutes played	77
Touches	65
Accurate passes	48/54 (89%)
Shots	2
Key passes	4
Big chances created	2
Progressive carries	3
Duels won	3/5
Expected goals (xG)	0.72
Expected assists (xA)	0.88

So, he's back to his best; he's fought off the threat of Eberechi Eze and Co to take a starring role again. However, for just how long will he remain Arsenal's creator-in-chief?

Arsenal may have signed the next Odegaard

When Arsenal signed Eze a year ago, it was a warning shot to Odegaard. Fix up and improve soon or you will be out of the team. Well, with his English colleague struggling for form during his maiden year in north London, it has allowed the Norwegian to become a prominent part once again.

In the years to come, he will no doubt face competition from the silky Max Dowman for a role in the team, while depending on how Ethan Nwaneri's loan at Borussia Dortmund pans out, he may have to outmuscle him too. Play like this, however, and Odegaard will have no problem doing just that.

Yet, there will be more signings to come. Arsenal haven't stood still in the last year, particularly when it comes to their youth recruitment.

Exciting teenage Ecuadorian twins Holger and Edwin Quintero will be officially heading to London in the summer of 2027 once they've turned 18 while another captivating young talent in the form of Andria Bartishvili will also join next year.

Arsenal wrapped up a deal to sign the Georgian wonderkid from Kolkheti 1913 in his homeland last week with the player successfully undergoing a medical.

Just 17 years of age, Bartishvili has been hailed as "the next Khvicha Kvaratskhelia" in some circles, not just because of his nationality but due to his incredible dribbling skills. However, in the eyes of Saba Sapanadze, an expert in Georgian football, that comparison isn't wholly accurate.

Speaking to Football.London, he said: "Khvicha is a pure winger, much quicker, with long, powerful strides. Andria operates more centrally, behind the striker, and one of his biggest strengths is his ability to break through midfield from central areas. In terms of style, I’d compare him more to Kevin De Bruyne."

Much like Odegaard, the young Georgian is remarkably good in tight spaces, he's so composed, so classy in possession of the ball. As Sapanadze outlines, Barithsvili is "a player who is incredible in one-on-one situations. He is extremely technical and intelligent, with outstanding vision and awareness on the pitch." That sounds very much like the Arsenal captain, doesn't it?

Expectations must be tempered. After all, he is still only 17. Yet, much like Odegaard, he's already experienced despite his age.

We all remember how Arsenal's number 8 broke through in Norway at the age of just 15. Well, Bartishvili may not be signing a contract with Real Madrid at 16 like Odegaard, but he has made an impact in senior football as a young kid.

The promising forward has two goals and three assists this season and with Conference League football on the horizon for his loan club Iberia, his development will likely fast-track even further.

It looks like Arsenal have signed a real gem here.

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