Former Manchester City star Micah Richards has sympathy for Martin Odegaard, who he believes would be well out in front in the race for the Premier League's Player of the Year award were it not for Erling Haaland.
Haaland has hit the ground running in his first season in English football, setting a new Premier League record for goals in a single campaign. His efforts look set to help his City team defend their title, at the expense of the Arsenal squad captained by his Norway international team-mate Odegaard.
The Gunners' skipper was on target again on Sunday, opening the scoring in a win at Newcastle which ensures Mikel Arteta's team will finish in the top two. It was Odegaard's 15th of the campaign, with seven assists on top of that, but his compatriot has been on another level.
"If it hadn't been for Erling Haaland, Arsenal's captain would be odds-on for Player of the Year," Richards wrote for The Mail. The ex-England defender said the Gunners pulled off a "masterstroke" to sign the midfielder from Real Madrid, and compared him to his former City colleague David Silva.
"He reminds me of David Silva in so many ways, with his quiet authority and leadership," the pundit added. "You wouldn't know David was in a room sometimes, but on the pitch he made you follow him through his brilliance and that is what Odegaard is doing — 15 goals from midfield (and not one penalty) is just exceptional.
"Arsenal's business in getting Odegaard on loan, restoring his confidence and then buying him outright was a masterstroke. He's going to get even better."
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Odegaard's goal on Sunday saw him draw level with Gabriel Martinelli as the Gunners' top scorer. Only five players have more Premier League goals this season, but one of those five is Haaland with his 35 from 32 appearances.
Haaland drew a rare blank on Saturday as City beat Leeds 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to stay in control at the top. Manager Pep Guardiola was visibly frustrated when the frontman passed up the chance to take a penalty, with Ilkay Gundogan missing from the spot, but praised Haaland after the victory.
"Today Erling could have scored two or three goals," Guardiola told Match of the Day after his team came away with all three points. "He played incredibly well, in his movement and everything... how he fought for us.
"I like to praise Erling when he does not score. If Gundo scores everyone is 'OK, hat-trick, well done'. But a taker is a taker. At 2-0, this is a business, not a situation where we cannot forget it."
