Arsenal snap up Real midfielder Odegaard on a permanent basis

Arsenal have completed the permanent signing of Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard for £30million.

Just when it appeared they would miss out on the Norwegian following his successful loan spell at the Emirates last season, the Gunners finally persuaded cash-strapped Real to part company with him.

Odegaard, 22, made 20 appearances for Mikel Arteta's side after joining in January, netting twice and setting up a further two goals.

Arteta said: "He made us better [last season]. We needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players who can be mortals in this football club. 

"He's a young man but he has a lot of experience with huge clubs already. 

"He has a unique talent and I'm delighted the club has made an effort and now we have Martin in a permanent deal here."

Snapped up by Real in 2015 as a 16-year-old, he featured just eight times in LaLiga for the Spanish giants and spent time out on loan at four separate clubs.

Arteta made it clear he wanted the Norway captain permanently and he follows Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mika Biereth and Ben White in switching to the Emirates this summer. 

They are set to joined by Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has completed his medical. 

Odegaard will not be available for the visit of Chelsea but Ramsdale, 23, has an outside chance of playing on Sunday.

Arteta added: "There is still some paperwork getting done. He has done his medical but there are still things to resolve so we will have to wait.

"Aaron is a talented young keeper with huge experience and has international experience for England. 

"He will bring competition and that's what we want to create — healthy competition, quality competition in every position. We identified Aaron as the ideal option."

Arsenal's Premier League campaign began with a limp 2-0 defeat at newcomers Brentford last Friday. 

But Arteta, who has since revealed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are battling coronavirus, insists morale remains high.

The Gunners boss: "After a defeat the best way to put things right is to win football matches — when you win you create a different energy and environment. 

"Our focus is to get the best possible performance and then the result will be a consequence to that. 

"Lacazette still hasn't trained as he's not been good. Aubameyang trained yesterday but they were effected by the virus — they were ill. 

"I don't know where it came from. A week before they had three or four negatives and then a positive, we have no clue where it came from. 

"Most of them are double vaccinated, others have one, we are trying to encourage them to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families and the environment around the club.

"But it's obviously a really personal matter and we are trying to guide them and explain why it's better to do it. At the end of the day, it's a personal position."