Arsenal youngster Martin Odegaard has made an immediate impression after joining the Gunners on loan from Real Madrid, but he’s now risked the wrath of team-mate Hector Bellerin by claiming the Spaniard isn’t the fastest player in the squad.
Bellerin is often considered to be Arsenal’s quickest player, and has been known for his speed on the right flank.
The Spaniard is rarely beaten in a foot race, and has often been employed going forward in a wing-back position.
But Odegaard thinks he’s not the club’s fastest player, as he explained to the Premier League’s YouTube channel that he thinks Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is faster.
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
He said: “I would say Aubameyang, I think he’s the fastest player in the team, and I don’t see any other players being on his level.
“It is difficult to be faster than him I think,” Odegaard said.
Odegaard was then asked if he felt he was at the same level with his sprint speed, but offered a quick response.
(Image: REUTERS)
“Not really, not really,” he said when asked if he felt he was as quick as either Aubameyang or Bellerin.
“I don’t think I stand a chance, but some of the other players maybe, Kieran Tierney said he might beat him, but I don’t know, we’ll have to see.”
Arsenal have been tipped to try and sign Odegaard on a permanent deal in the summer, though Madrid are reluctant to sell.
And the 22-year-old wonderkid revealed he spoke with a few of his international team-mates about a move to the Premier League before he joined.
“Yeah, I spoke to both of them! I also spoke to another guy who used to play at Fulham, Stefan Johansen,” he added. “He was the former captain of the national team so I spoke to him to know a little bit about the league and how they saw the league.
“They had only good things to say about the league and everything here – they told me a lot of good things. The Premier League is really big in Norway so I grew up watching it every week and everyone in Norway follows the league so closely. It’s a dream to be able to play here.”
