Mikel Arteta urged to drop Arsenal star in Tottenham clash

Martin Keown urges Arteta to drop Odegaard and play Smith Rowe instead.

Both Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe are fighting for the same spot in the Arsenal squad this weekend.

Martin Keown believes Odegaard showed the wrong attitude after he voiced his fears about making mistakes.

‘I think he’s a really interesting player for Arteta,’ Keown told BT Sport.

‘When I listen to him it’s what I see on the pitch. He talks about the team a lot, doesn’t really talk about himself.

‘The spotlight has been on him since he was a 16-year-old kid who went to Real Madrid. Maybe he should be a little bit more willing to talk about himself.

‘It’s about him now. This goal should elevate him now. Lift him. Give him the confidence he needs to express himself.

‘He talks about being frightened of making mistakes. That’s the wrong attitude.

‘You’ve got to love it. You’ve got to play with freedom. Be free in your mind and Wenger used to say, ‘just relax and play, play what’s on’.

‘And I think there’s something there under the bonnet. We saw a glimpse of that with that strike. That is a top drawer effort he’s hit there.

‘But there are other mistakes in the game and just needs confidence. I think he’s been in a difficult situation, it’s an interesting signing.

‘I’m not even sure he’s going to play at the weekend because Smith Rowe is fit.’

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