Arsenal star Martin Odegaard named 'most important' player in the Premier League

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes they boast the most important player in the Premier League in the form of Martin Odegaard.

It's been a reasonably strong start to the campaign for the Gunners as they won six of their opening 12 league fixtures, as well as three of their first five Champions League matches. Ahead of matchday 13, they sat just outside the top four on goal difference, but only nine points behind leaders Liverpool.

United's brief dips in form this season, against both Newcastle United and Bournemouth, came in the absence of club captain, Odegaard. The Norway international suffered an ankle injury while representing his country back in September and missed an important run of games, including the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at the end of October.

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Keown, who had two spells at Arsenal during his playing days, has praised Odegaard for the way he's impacted performances since his return earlier this month, and insists there is no one in the Premier League more important than the 25-year-old.

“He’s created 102 chances – more than anyone in the Premier League – and 41 times he’s retrieved the ball in the final third so in and out of possession,” the former defender told talkSPORT. “I’m struggling to think of a more important player in the Premier League.

“To come back after six weeks out and hit the ground running in the way that he did shows how he’s applied himself when he’s been out. We’d become predictable in front of goal.”

Odegaard has now made seven appearances for Arsenal across all competitions this season, and has registered three assists in that time. Each of those have come in Arsenal's last three games against Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Sporting CP.