Arsenal legend includes Odegaard in list of three unnecessary signings Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has blasted the club’s decision-making in the transfer market – naming three players who they did not need to sign. Martin Odegaard made his first start for Arsenal in their 4-2 win over Leeds United on Sunday. But Adams is not convinced he was the right signing. The former defender also questioned the signings of Willian in summer 2020 and Nicolas Pepe one year before. The two attackers have struggled this season, with Willian still yet to score for Arsenal. Pepe, meanwhile, has only started eight Premier League games this season. Their ineffectiveness was one of the reasons Arsenal brought in another attacking player in Odegaard in January. However, Adams believes that loan addition was another example of the club ignoring their real issues. “To be honest, there’s an argument that you don’t need Martin Odegaard,” he told Premier League Productions after the Leeds game. “I got so annoyed that we bought Pepe and Willian in when you’ve got two kids [Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka] bursting into the team. “There’s other areas in the team that you could look at; there’s holes in that team, we saw how fragile they are defensively. The defence has always been the weak link. “As the sporting director of Arsenal, you wouldn’t be getting Odegaard in. You’d be getting good, strong defenders into the team instead.” Subscribe for free to TEAMtalk’s daily newsletter… Arteta rates Odegaard on full debut Odegaard was not particularly involved in any of Arsenal’s four goals, but manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with the Norwegian’s performance. The Real Madrid midfielder lasted 78 minutes, having 43 touches of the ball. He completed two dribbles and had two shots. It was the intensity of his game that stood out for Arteta. “To play in his league start against Leeds, to run the way he did, the way he was comfortable,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “He was great.” READ MORE: Arteta explains how Leeds made life ‘so difficult’ for Arsenal The post Arsenal legend includes Odegaard in list of three unnecessary signings appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has blasted the club’s decision-making in the transfer market – naming three players who they did not need to sign.

Martin Odegaard made his first start for Arsenal in their 4-2 win over Leeds United on Sunday. But Adams is not convinced he was the right signing.

The former defender also questioned the signings of Willian in summer 2020 and Nicolas Pepe one year before.

The two attackers have struggled this season, with Willian still yet to score for Arsenal. Pepe, meanwhile, has only started eight Premier League games this season.

Their ineffectiveness was one of the reasons Arsenal brought in another attacking player in Odegaard in January.

However, Adams believes that loan addition was another example of the club ignoring their real issues.

“To be honest, there’s an argument that you don’t need Martin Odegaard,” he told Premier League Productions after the Leeds game.

“I got so annoyed that we bought Pepe and Willian in when you’ve got two kids [Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka] bursting into the team.

“There’s other areas in the team that you could look at; there’s holes in that team, we saw how fragile they are defensively. The defence has always been the weak link.

“As the sporting director of Arsenal, you wouldn’t be getting Odegaard in. You’d be getting good, strong defenders into the team instead.”

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Arteta rates Odegaard on full debut

Odegaard was not particularly involved in any of Arsenal’s four goals, but manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with the Norwegian’s performance.

The Real Madrid midfielder lasted 78 minutes, having 43 touches of the ball. He completed two dribbles and had two shots.

It was the intensity of his game that stood out for Arteta.

“To play in his league start against Leeds, to run the way he did, the way he was comfortable,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “He was great.”

READ MORE: Arteta explains how Leeds made life ‘so difficult’ for Arsenal

The post Arsenal legend includes Odegaard in list of three unnecessary signings appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Samuel Bannister