Martin Odegaard inches towards shock Arsenal loan move

MÖ out, MØ in

Remember that time when Mesut Özil had just signed for Arsenal and all their fans responded by changing any Os in their Twitter names to Ös? Great times. Rest assured that something similar is almost guaranteed to happen with the Ø if, as is now being widely reported, Martin Ødegaard completes a shock six-month loan switch to The Emirates. The young Norwegian - and he is still young, despite some people being willing to write his career off before he was legally allowed to go for a pint - has not had the impact he hoped for at Real Madrid this season. After his loan spell at Real Sociedad was cut short following his eye-catching displays in San Sebastain last season, he has failed to gain regular minutes under Zinedine Zidane this term. Because of this, it was reported last week that he had informed Real that he wanted to leave on another loan. Though it was widely assumed Odegaard fancied a return to Sociedad, it now seems Arsenal are his most likely destination for the remainder of the season. According to football.london, Arsenal's technical director, Edu, has been in discussions with the player and his father in recent days and has convinced the still-only-22-year-old that a six-month spell in London is just what he needs. The Norwegian could arrive at The Emirates within days, but the deal is not expected to include an option for Arsenal to make the move permanent come the end of the season - as is the case with other Real loanee, Dani Ceballos. Reports in Spain have claimed Odegaard has grown tired of the situation under Zidane in Madrid, but with the Frenchman's long-term future as manager in danger following Real's humiliating Copa del Rey defeat at minnows Alcoyano on Wednesday night, it's almost certain the youngster will use the loan move to stake a claim to a starting berth at the Bernabeu next season. Prepare for the Øs.