Arsenal's Norwegian Messi making good on early hype

An astonishing eight years have passed since Martin Odegaardmade his international debut aged 15

Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (C) has an unsuccessful shot past Brentford's Spanish goalkeeper David Raya (L) and Brentford's Swedish defender Pontus Jansson (R) defends during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brentford at the Emirates Stadium 

THE LAST few fans leaving the stadium could still be heard singing 'Saka and Emile Smith Rowe' (to the tune of Status Quo's Rockin' All Over The World) as a proud manager Mikel Arteta sat down to discuss the match-winning goals from Arsenal's favourite sons before the subject turned to the real star of the show – Martin Odegaard.

At 23, the Norway national captain is just in the same generation as the club's homegrown heroes. He showed flashes of brilliance on loan from Real Madrid in the second half of last season and is now consistently showing why Arsenal were so keen to sign him from Spain last summer in a permanent deal that could rise to €40m.