Wayne Rooney has lavished praise on Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard after the Gunners secured a 2-1 victory over Chelsea. The BBC pundit noted that the Norwegian has maintained impressive form from the World Cup into the early stages of the new season.
Odegaard netted the winning goal in the fierce London derby, finding the back of the net on the 50th minute.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Rooney remarked:
Last season wasn’t Odegaard’s best. He lifted the Premier League trophy, of course, but he wasn't playing at his peak.
I think he had a really good World Cup, and he has managed to carry that form over into the start of this season.
Rooney specifically highlighted Odegaard's impact against the reigning Premier League champions:
In my opinion, he was magnificent. He set the tempo for Arsenal, and what I loved most was his desire to drive forward, making runs in behind the striker, bursting into the box, and creating danger.
You can see he plays with a smile on his face. When Odegaard is playing like that, his influence on the game is immense.
