‘Martin Odegaard is our wizard!’: Arsenal fans hail maestro for magic moments in win over Brighton

Martin Odegaard has been hailed by Arsenal fans for his magic work during their 4-2 win away at Brighton to round off an outstanding 2022 in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old got the Gunners’ second goal of the night in the 39th minute, while his long-range pass was pin perfect in assisting Gabriel Martinelli for the last of the visitors’ quartet.   

In the first half, he also pulled off a drag back nutmeg move, while showing up the Seagulls in the final league match of the calendar year.  

Martin Odegaard won over fans for his magical plays during Arsenal’s 4-2 win at Brighton

Posting a video of the initial skill, one Twitter user commented: ‘This nutmeg by Odegaard was crazy!’ 

Norway’s captain also won plaudits for his work in the second half, particularly the pass which Odegaard swept down the length of the pitch to Martinelli’s feet, where he was able to run it into the Brighton box to put them three goals clear again, after Kaoru Mitoma’s strike for the Seagulls. 

Odegaard’s first-half dragback and nutmeg was hailed as a great play during the victory

Sharing a clip of the exceptional ball, one user wrote: ‘That Odegaard pass… my word’. 

Another said: ‘Odegaard, with the pass of the season for goal number 4’, while a third drew comparisons with the Arsenal of old, including hero Dennis Bergkamp. They added: ‘What an assistant from Odegaard. Bergkamp was our magician. Odegaard is our wizard.’

 

The magical pass by the Norway captain was hailed as Arsenal moved seven points clear

Others found comparisons between Odegaard and Mesut Ozil, who made 184 appearances for Arsenal between 2013 and 2021. 

One read: ‘Odegaard is Ozil reborn. Perfect replacement.’ while a second wrote: ‘Odegaard reminds me of Ozil so much, one pass and it can make all the difference in a game..’

Several fans were reminded of former Gunner Mesut Ozil during Odegaard’s victorious display

Another wondered if they were wrong to view the 24-year-old midfielder in the same light, asking: ‘I rated Ozil a lot whilst the English press loved to have a dig at the player….but is Odegaard better than Ozil or am I getting carried away?’ 

Regardless of whether he is the new Bergkamp, or the new Ozil, or just his own Odegaard, his Gunners finished 2022 top of the Premier League by seven points, owing to Manchester City’s failure to beat Frank Lampard’s Everton.