Richards: Odegaard needs to control matches more to reach Fernandes and De Bruyne's level

Richards said that Odegaard needs to take more control of matches to reach the level of Fernandes and De Bruyne, while Shearer and Lineker also praised Odegaard's performances at the start of the new season.

Shearer said: "I think Arsenal's overall performance was excellent. Odegaard's display was outstanding."

Lineker said: "His start to the season has indeed been very impressive."

Shearer continued: "Saka missed several excellent chances in the first half. Arsenal could have gone into halftime two or three goals ahead, but the whole team remained completely calm.

As for Odegaard, his start to the season has been extremely impressive. That goal was beautiful, and his performance last night was flawless."

Lineker added: "When it comes to Odegaard, this also reflects a phenomenon in football: people start questioning whether 'Odegaard is no longer good enough and whether his form has disappeared'. But essentially, it was a matter of his physical condition, wasn't it?

He had previously been troubled by injuries and had been playing through them. After the World Cup, he regained his rhythm, returned to full fitness and became confident in his physical condition. That confidence shows on the pitch. With his talent and ability, he could not fail to perform at his level for a long period if he stayed healthy.

He is now physically strong, but he needs to remain healthy. If he can do that, Arsenal will continue to improve."

Richards assessed Odegaard this way: "He has always been a top player.

He is clearly now willing to take more risks.

I mentioned on my podcast last week that this also comes from an increase in confidence.

Looking back at Arsenal's away match against West Ham United last season, Arteta brought him on and he immediately changed the course of the game.

Since that match, he has built up this confidence.

But I still believe that if he wants to raise his level of play to the same tier as Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne, he needs to dominate matches more.

His passing has always been excellent, and he is willing to get on the ball. The key is his areas of involvement and his contributions in assists or goals. He has already scored four goals this season, making a very good start. He is a top player in his own right. Now he just needs to maintain this form."