Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have become Arsenal's star duo in recent weeks and are starting to gain major interest in the wider world of football, illustrating the success of the Gunners' development under Mikel Arteta.
Both of the Arsenal stars became the most-searched players on the popular website Transfermarkt, which is used by clubs and fans to view and analyse a player’s statistics in the wake of the 3-2 weekend win at Watford.
Saka topped the pile with Odegaard the third-highest player for searches on the website, highlighting not only the improvement in their performances from an Arsenal point of view but also the intrigue around both players from further afield.
And that should act as a warning as much as a source of encouragement for Arteta and the Gunners.
Odegaard has been given freedom in the Arsenal midfield, which has allowed him to drift towards the right-half space where he is creating a strong link with Bukayo Saka, and the Watford victory was proof of how devastating the connection can be as the two players linked up for a magnificent opening goal at Vicarage Road.
The Gunners currently have the upper hand in the fight for a Champions League spot next season, and that is thanks to the impact of Odegaard and Saka in an attacking sense.
There have been questions surrounding Saka’s future in particular recently as his contract situation is beginning to reach a precarious stage. This summer he will have just two years remaining on his current deal and is approaching the stage where a renewal must happen.
The Englishman is viewed as one of the club's most valuable assets and football.london understands that the Gunners have made extending the current contract of the youngster a key priority ahead of the summer transfer window.
There have been reports that suggest Arsenal may struggle to convince Saka to commit his future to the club if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
A lot of pressure has been heaped on the shoulders of Saka to carry Arsenal through tough situations despite his tender age and his style is key to Arsenal's improved fluency in attack. It has also led to him being the most-used player under Arteta since he took control of the team in 2019.
The academy graduate is in the top five for appearances made for Arsenal before turning 20, meaning he is above legends such as David Rocastle and Liam Brady.
Manchester City and Liverpool have both previously been credited with an interest in the winger and his continued good form will only serve to keep him in their sights, while Odegaard has developed into a key on-field leader for the Gunners. TAnd that has not been lost on fans from beyond North London either.
Arsenal have fallen victim to losing their best players at a critical stage in the past but with Arteta’s instilling a new culture at the club and Champions League qualification within the Gunners' sights as we approach the home straight of the Premier League season.
It has been a while since it has felt as if anyone from Arsenal's first-team group has felt like an appealing prospect to the clubs competing at the top end of the league table but Mikel Arteta has a duo who are now the talk of the footballing world.
There may be a wariness over what that means for both players' futures but Arsenal should feel emboldened and confident in their ability to keep hold of both and the impact they are having on this team is clear. Just ask the hordes of Transfermarkt users.
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