EPL: He has stepped up – Rio Ferdinand changes mind about Arsenal star

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has changed his mind on comments he made about Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard where he questioned whether the attacking midfielder would be able to carry the weight of the armband at the North London club.

After the departures of both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette earlier this year, Odegaard was made Arsenal captain by manager Mikel Arteta.

However, after Arsenal’s first match of the campaign against Crystal Palace, Ferdinand questioned Arteta’s decision to make the Norway international skipper and suggested the added responsibility could hinder him.

But following Odegaard’s two goals for Arsenal against Wolves last weekend, Ferdinand has now clarified his earlier comments, praising the 23-year-old’s inspiring performances for the Gunners and insisting he always had faith in his ability to ‘step up.’

“We spoke with Mikel Arteta about this the other day, about checking the boxes and ticking off certain things that have hindered Arsenal football club over the last probably ten or fifteen years,” Ferdinand said on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube show.

“Being soft in the centre and being easy to play against sometimes, away games being hit and bullied, and players and fans calling them out – I remember Troy Deeney called them out.

“But right now, they are ticking off those boxes. That game was one where they probably got beat 1-0 in years gone by. But I did not have any doubts. I was thinking, ‘When are they going to score?’

“And I was as pleased as anyone to see Odegaard be the man to step up and have that moment,” he added.