Arteta needs Odegaard's help to complete dream Arsenal signing

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard could play a vital role in his club’s pursuit of RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa next year.

Nusa, 21, has been earmarked as one of Mikel Arteta’s top transfer targets for 2027 and it’s understood that Arsenal are likely to test Leipzig’s resolve with an official approach next summer.

Rumours indicate that a sale will not be agreed during the upcoming January transfer window, but Arsenal are expected to ramp up talks over a possible deal for the forward over the coming months as they look to bolster the attacking options at Arteta’s disposal.

Arsenal strengthened their forward line with the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge over the summer, but they failed to land a replacement for Gabriel Martinelli, who joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal in September, while they were unable to persuade Julian Alvarez to return to the Premier League.

As a result, it has been widely reported that at least one new attacker will move to the Emirates Stadium next year, with the club prioritising the addition of another left winger to compete with Tzolis for a starting XI berth.

Kenan Yildiz, Vinicius Junior, Kevin Schade and Marcus Tavernier have all been linked with the Gunners in recent weeks, while the reigning English top flight champions are also keeping close tabs on the form of Nusa, who has been on their radar for a while.

The 21-year-old played a bit-part role for Leipzig last season, but he has stepped up this term following the sale of Yan Diomande to Real Madrid, registering 14 goal contributions in just 15 games across all competitions.

His form has alerted scouts from across Europe and it’s highly likely that a transfer tug-of-war will take place next year as elite clubs look to battle for his signature. However, Arsenal may have a secret weapon in their pursuit of a deal.

Over the summer, it’s understood that Cole Palmer and Reece James helped convince England team-mate Morgan Rogers to complete a move to Chelsea, and Odegaard could play a similar role in Arsenal’s pursuit of his Norway colleague Nusa.

The pair have been in the national team set-up together for a while, and Odegaard could use the upcoming November international break to start tempting Nusa into an Arsenal switch.

In fact, Arteta admitted as much during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Gunners’ clash versus Hull City on Saturday. “Obviously, when we have the opportunity to talk to our players about some players that they share two or three weeks together with, it's very valuable information,” he told reporters.

“I think we all do that. It is a big difference between the Premier League and international football and what is there. But there's always a lot to learn.”

So, the next fortnight could prove pivotal in Arsenal’s pursuit of Nusa, especially if Odegaard is able to plant some seeds.