Arteta defends Arsenal's transfer policy after Odegaard signing

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has jumped in defence of the club’s transfer policy after recent criticism on Martin Odegaard’s loan move.

Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal’s transfer policy after club legend Tony Adams criticized an ‘unnecessary’ Martin Odegaard loan move.

The 2020/21 campaign has been a difficult one for the Gunners. However, one of the biggest positives from it has been the performances of the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka. The young duo have impressed with the chances they’ve had and one can’t argue that they don’t deserve a regular run in the Gunners XI.

However, all of the above wasn’t enough. Arteta still needed to find a way to bring in more creativity to his side. With that in mind, Arsenal took the decision to bring in Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid during the January transfer window. The Real Madrid midfielder has impressed for the Gunners since his move. Surprisingly, this signing has been criticized by Tony Adams who believes that the Real Madrid loanee would take opportunities away from Smith Rowe and more.

Tony Adams: "Players like Odegaard, my argument is: do you need that type of player when you’ve got Emile, you’ve got Martinelli, you’ve got all these other kids that are coming through. You’ve got all this kind of talent" #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/l8nRQov2HZ
— Gurjit (@GurjitAFC) March 1, 2021

The Gunners boss has now sent what appears to be a response to any of the above claims on Odegaard.

“Well first of all I think you have to set some very clear principles that you want to achieve and the processes that are going to be in place to try to minimise the risk every time we get a player.” Arteta told Astro SuperSport.

“Because it’s like a bet. There are a lot of things that we cannot control and a lot of things that we don’t know how they are going to act.

“But if we have the right processes, and we have the right principles to apply for every single player that walks in through our door to our club, then I think we are in a much better place to make a lot of good decisions.

“When I said to you about the squad balance, it is something that is related to recruitment. First of all the squad has to look in good balance, in good shape, in good health.

“And then you can talk about taking the squad into a different level, improving the recruitment, improving the quality of the squad in the individual and specific positions that we want.

“But as well, part of that recruitment – and it’s huge at this club – is our youth.”

“And I am so proud as well with the work that is being done throughout the club, all the coaches at all the stages, to have the quality and the talent that we have at the club.

“So we have to create a space within our squad to give the opportunity to start to fit our first team as well with young players. And that is the key for our future.”

There is already talk that Odegaard is enjoying life at the Emirates and Arteta is even considering a permanent move for the 22-year-old. However it may be, the Noweigian midfielder has been a positive addition to the Gunners squad.