According to Jamie Redknapp, Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is no longer the best midfielder in the Premier League.
Redknapp aired his views whilst on punditry duties for Sky Sports’ coverage of Arsenal’s London derby with Fulham.
Mikel Arteta recorded a comfortable 3-0 win thanks to goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.
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After the match, Redknapp was full of praise for Arsenal captain Odegaard, who he believes has eclipsed De Bruyne.
He said: “Right now he’s number one. There’s nobody [better]. Normally we would say Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfield player, not just in the Premier League but the world. But something isn’t quite right. He isn’t playing as many games as he’d like.
“But Odegaard does this thing where – all great players possess it – it’s like time stands still when he has the ball.
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“Most players [would rush the shot today], especially midfield players as we’re not used to getting in those situations.
“But the calmness that he possesses, he’s scored four or five goals like that with that left foot. He’s the captain, he’s the leader.”
He continued: “Yeah, for me he’s number one [in the Premier League]. And he’s leading that team.
“The other thing he does as well, when he hasn’t got the ball he goes and presses it. He’s the first one, the first point of defence, he goes and presses and then all of a sudden it catches. He does it so well.”
Fellow pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink also waded in, he said: “He’s a different player than De Bruyne but he has always got a solution, you know.
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“When he comes in a tight space he finds the right solution – and very calmly. He doesn’t have as many assists as De Bruyne because he’s not that kind of player. But the other things he is doing, he is doing them so elegantly and so good. It’s a pleasure to watch him.”
Topics: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, Arsenal, Football, Jamie Redknapp
Marcus Chan