Martin Odegaard is not ruling out staying at Arsenal next season, hence his decision to take the number 11 shirt at the club.
That’s according to Defensa Central, who say the midfielder is more than open to extending his loan stay at the Emirates.
Odegaard completed a move to the Emirates earlier this week, joining the Gunners on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season.
He has made the move in search of regular playing time, which he has not found on offer at the Bernabeu under Zinedine Zidane this season.
He will be hoping that’s on offer under Mikel Arteta. The loan deal does not include any option to make it permanent or extend, but it seems Odegaard is not against the latter.
DC report that he ‘does not rule out’ spending another season in London, although that will depend on Zidane staying at Madrid and whether his performances at the Emirates are ‘satisfactory’.
Either way, Odegaard would be happy to spend a full season on loan at Arsenal, and it is because of this he chose the number 11 shirt at the club.
He had the option of taking either the number 10 or number 11 but the former, which is vacant after Mesut Ozil’s move to Germany, is also wanted by Smith-Rowe.
He plans to take it next season, and so Odegaard decided to take the 11 so that he can keep that next season as well.
It now remains to be seen if the Norwegian can make an impact, with Arsenal very much hoping the deal turns out to be as good as everyone is making it out to be.
