According to a report by Football London on Friday October 23, 2026, there are a number of great attacking midfielders in the Premier League right now. Among them are Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Bruno Fernandes, and Martin Odegaard, the captain for Arsenal, who has been superb under Mikel Arteta's tutelage this season.

Although Odegaard's play has made it tough for the gifted England international to earn a regular starting spot at the Emirates Stadium, Eberechi Eze has also shown his quality since joining Arsenal.

While appearing on Viaplay, former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam spoke about Odegaard and provided an insightful evaluation of the Norwegian midfielder's skills in comparison to other playmakers in the Premier League.

Stam finally spoke up when the name of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was brought up during a challenge that required him to stay silent until someone better than Odegaard was heard.

Despite Cole Palmer's outstanding individual statistics, Stam seems to think Odegaard's overall midfield contribution is particularly impressive, since the name of Chelsea's Palmer did not elicit a similar reaction.

Palmer is now one of Chelsea's most valuable attackers, thanks to his steady production of goals and assists as well as his cool demeanor, inventiveness, and impact on big games.

But Odegaard is unique to Arsenal; he helps control games and create opportunities for his teammates with a blend of smart movement, accurate passing, leadership, and tactical awareness.

However, statistics do offer a useful viewpoint. Palmer has been a consistent contributor to Chelsea's attacking efforts and has been incredibly effective in the final third, as evidenced by his generally stronger attacking statistics in recent seasons.

According to the numbers provided, the Chelsea midfielder scored 37 goals in the 2024–25 season, whereas Odegaard scored 15 goals in his best season. This highlights how different their scoring records were.

Although comparing players only by goals and assists misses important aspects of their respective responsibilities, Palmer's productivity has strengthened arguments that he belongs among Europe's elite attacking midfielders.

While Odegaard's contributions to pressing, ball retention, chance creation, and attacking attack organization may not always be immediately apparent in traditional statistical comparisons, they are significant to Arsenal.

Despite going through a rough patch last year, the Norwegian has been on a roll recently, showing supporters why Arteta keeps putting his faith in him as captain and key player for Arsenal.

In the end, Stam's response has sparked fresh discussion regarding two outstanding midfielders. Since "the game is about more than just numbers on a stat sheet," as one football argument puts it, preferences can be understood, even among experts.