BBC and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has compared Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard to his former Manchester City teammate David Silva.

The Norwegian has been outstanding for the Gunners this season but Richards has admitted he did have his doubts about the player before he established himself as a key figure at the Emirates:

“He was big news when he joined Real Madrid aged 16 but then things seemed to drift and I was wondering if he would ever realise his potential. Odegaard was 22 when he joined Arsenal on loan from Real in 2021 and you only get so many chances at big clubs. I wasn’t sure whether he would take off, or fade away.”

“So, for Odegaard to turn things around for himself like this is impressive, especially in one of the world’s most competitive leagues, and then to take the responsibility of captaincy to inspire his team too. Odegaard reminds me of my old City team-mate David Silva in the way he wants to get into pockets of space, get on the ball and dictate play. He does it all so effortlessly too, and I love watching him play.”

It’s a massive compliment indeed drawing similarities between Odegaard and Silva. The Spaniard is a Premier League legend, who scored 60 goals and contributed an incredible 106 assists in 309 appearances.

Needless to say, Odegaard has got some way to go before he reaches those heights but Richards is right to make parallels between the two players.

The Arsenal midfielder‘s ability to link up play between the lines, and deliver through balls into threatening areas, make him one of the best playmakers in Europe. Consistency, though, is the key for the 24-year-old if he wants to have a career that comes close to matching Silva’s.