Martin Keown believes Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard must maintain his high level of performance due to increased competition within the squad. The Norwegian scored in the Gunners' 3-0 victory over Coventry and was named Man of the Match.
Odegaard has made a bright start to the new season. Just a week ago, he made his mark in the Community Shield, and now he bagged the third goal for Arsenal in their Premier League opener.
However, Keown reminded fans that after a challenging previous season, the captaincy is no longer a guaranteed position:
We need him in top form. Perhaps the pressure is now greater on him than anyone else, because behind him is Eberechi Eze, and young Douman certainly has the potential to become a fantastic player.
Therefore, it's crucial for our captain to lead the team effectively. And he was magnificent again.
The former Arsenal defender also praised Bukayo Saka, who netted one of the three goals:
Every time he gets the ball, there's an expectation of a threat. Last season, injuries held him back, but now it seems those issues are behind him, and we can expect to see his best self again.
He sets the standards. Saka has been a key player for Arteta throughout, and if Arsenal want to win trophies, he needs to be at his best.
New signing Christos Tsolis, who joined from Brugge for £34 million, also earned special mention:
This was one of the best debuts I've seen, probably since Freddie Ljungberg. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but nearly everything he did was beneficial.
