Arsenal Won Gold with an ‘electric’ Ace Worth Three Times More Than Maddison

Manchester City may once again be the winners of the Premier League title, but the 2023/24 season was once again positive and promising for Arsenal Football Club.

Mikel Arteta’s side look much more composed this year, as evidenced by their lack of collapse compared to the last two seasons, and their incredible goal difference (+57) shows how determined and organized they have become.

It’s a squad full of excellent players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and even Kai Havertz – much to the chagrin of Chelsea fans.

Yet there is one who is perhaps most important to Arteta’s system, a player who has been compared to James Maddison in the past, but whose value has surpassed that of the Englishman this season.

How Odegaard compares to Maddison this season

Of course, the player is Norwegian superstar and former prodigy Martin Odegaard, who has made the Gunners’ midfield his own in recent years.

However, before he agreed a permanent deal with the red north London side for just £34million in the summer of 2021, there was serious talk among fans and pundits about whether Arteta should opt for then-Leicester City star Maddison instead.

Edu Gaspar and Co. decided to sign the former Real Madrid prospect and a few years later the Foxes star ended up moving to North London, only instead of red and white he now only wears the latter, but how what happened to the two of them this season? ? And have Arsenal made a mistake in 2021?

So from a pure output perspective there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the Spurs star has missed 13 games for club and country this season, while the Arsenal captain has remained mostly injury-free, missing just five games for club and country in November.

Secondly, the Gunners’ European adventures have seen the Drammen-born star play significantly more games than his counterpart, making 45 in all competitions, while the Lilywhites ace has 25. To be more specific, this comparison is based solely on their performances in the Premier League.

However, the former Norwich City gem has scored four goals and provided seven assists in his 23 games this season, meaning he is averaging a goal every two games.

In comparison, the Norwegian captain has scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 32 league games so far, meaning he is involved in a goal every two games on average.

The biggest difference, however, is how the two played after Maddison’s injury.

In the 12 games the Lilywhites star has played since his return, he has provided just two assists and scored one goal, while his rival has provided five assists and four goals himself in the 14 league games he has played in that period shot.

It’s clear from these numbers that both players are incredibly creative and effective midfielders in their own right, but the Englishman’s decline in performance post-injury cannot be ignored and will likely impact his rating.

The ratings of Odegaard and Madison in comparison

While the two midfield maestros are almost indistinguishable in terms of their performance throughout the season, there is a huge difference in how the two are valued.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Spurs’ “incredible” ace is, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is worth just €40 million, which is around £34 million. In comparison, the “electric” Arsenal gem, as described by Izzy Christiansen, is worth a whopping €150 million, which is around £128 million, more than three times the value of its London rival.

That might seem like a huge difference for two high-profile players, but it probably takes into account the fact that Maddison is two years older than his competition, has a significantly worse injury record that shows no signs of improving, has minimal European experience and, Perhaps most importantly, unlike the Gunners star, who captains his club and national team, he has never shown leadership qualities.

Ultimately, while the Lilywhites dynamo is an undeniably talented and entertaining player to keep an eye on, Arsenal played blinders in signing Odegaard instead, and his recent valuation is just further confirmation of their decision in 2021.