⅞Alan Shearer has heaped praise on Arsenal duo Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe after the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Luton Town on Wednesday.
Mikel Arteta’s side are now top of the Premier League table after an Odegaard strike and an own goal saw them move above Liverpool ahead of the Reds’ fixture at home to Sheffield United on Thursday.
Arsenal remain unbeaten in the league so far this year, with Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Manchester City the only league game they have failed to win.
The Gunners now face a vital few weeks with a trip to Brighton next before the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich. They then host Aston Villa before the second leg against Bayern at the Allianz Arena.
And Newcastle United legend Shearer has shared his admiration for Odeegard’s performance against the Hatters as well as Smith Rowe’s.
He also acknowledged that the Gunners did not need to get out of second gear in the second half, with Arteta’s team leading comfortably at the break.
Everything Arsenal did well tonight [Martin] Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe were at the heart of everything, whether that was protecting that back four and doing their work defensively or whether it was their involvement in the goals,” he said on Match of the Day.
“They knew where each other were, one was pressing, one was sitting. But when they did decide to press as a team, certainly those two, they got it right.
“Smith Rowe is right you know, this is a really good Arsenal squad, it’s his third start in the league this season, so when you do get that opportunity you’ve got to do that, you’ve got to be involved, you’ve got to make things happen.
The second half was all about being professional and all about managing the game, not doing anything stupid, getting the ball, putting your team on the front foot.
It was a really good performance from Odegaard and particularly that guy there Emile Smith Rowe.
“They never really got out of second gear, they didn’t need to Arsenal, but it was a really professional performance and they got the points they needed.
