Paul Scholes says Arsenal should have signed £71m star to help Martin Odegaard

Paul Scholes has suggested Arsenal should have made a major signing in January to take Martin Odegaard to another level.

Odegaard has been one of Arsenal’s best and most consistent players over the past four years but the 2024-25 campaign has proven to be a frustrating one for the Norwegian midfielder.

An injury sustained while on international duty ruled Odegaard out for over two months and he has struggled to consistently show his best form since that setback, scoring just one goal across 21 games.

The 26-year-old has, however, looked sharp in recent weeks, scoring in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb and in Sunday’s stunning 5-1 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League.

Manchester United legend Scholes, considered one of the best midfielders England has ever produced, believes Odegaard is ‘brilliant’ but says he would benefit from playing with a ‘a proper centre forward’.

Kai Havertz continues to blow hot and cold for the Gunners and Arsenal considered signing a new striker during the January transfer window, even failing with a move for Aston Villa and England star Ollie Watkins.

Arteta also expressed interest in signing Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Dusan Vlahovic, though Arsenal ultimately kept their powder dry until the summer.

But Scholes says Arsenal would benefit from the addition of a proven goalscorer and says Gunners captain Odegaard in particular would have enjoyed playing with someone like Jhon Duran.

Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham were all linked with January moves for Duran before Al-Nassr came in with a huge £71m deal for the 21-year-old.

Scholes says long-term Arsenal target Isak is another player that would get more out of Odegaard, who only has two assists so far this season, having recorded ten in the league last year.

‘Imagine him with a centre forward, though. With a proper centre forward,’ Scholes said on The Overlap when discussing Odegaard’s form at Arsenal.

‘Martin Odegaard is a brilliant player, he can put a ball anywhere he wants. He hasn’t got that in front of him, a No. 10 needs that in front of him. 

‘I don’t think Kai Havertz is that type of player, even though he might make the odd run here and there. 

‘You’re thinking Isak or Duran, the lad from Villa, if he had that in front of him, it makes him become a better player as well because he’s move involved with goals.’ 

Havertz scored a much-needed goal in the victory over Man City but also missed a big chance to possibly remind Arsenal why they need a new striker this summer.

Of course the club could argue they still have second-best attack in the Premier League in terms of goals scored and have built an Arsenal team involved in its third successive title challenge.

Whether Arsenal are able to finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy remains to be seen, however, and Theo Walcott cannot see leaders Liverpool dropping off.

‘Arsenal had to win [against Manchester City on Sunday] and put in a statement performance,’ the former Gunners winger said on BBC’s Match of the Day 2.

‘Liverpool are, at this moment, playing at some level. It’s going to be closer than you think but Liverpool, at this moment, I just don’t see them slipping up.’

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