Mikel Arteta's "something different" transfer claim comes as blow for Emile Smith Rowe

Mikel Arteta has hailed Martin Odegaard's performance in their 6-0 win against West Brom in the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal bounced back from their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday with an emphatic result against the Baggies as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hattrick.

Aaron Ramsdale made his debut after making his £24million move from Sheffield United, while Odegaard was handed his first start since arriving from Real Madrid.

And Arteta was delighted with how both of his new boys fared.

The Gunners boss reserved special praise for Odegaard insisting that he was one of a kind compared to the rest of the squad.

Emile Smith Rowe is gutted as Arsenal lose 2-0 to Chelsea (Reuters)

Martin Odegaard or Emile Smith Rowe - Who is Arsenal's best no.10? Comment below

He said: "Martin gives us something different we don’t have with any other player.

"Aaron looked very comfortable. He’s a big personality.

"He [Ramsdale] hasn’t trained a lot with us. He’s a really young goalkeeper who has done a lot in this league already."

Odegaard's arrival was expected to spell the end for Emile Smith Rowe as Arsenal's no.10 this season and these comments would suggest precisely that.

It's a decision that has been criticised by the likes of Paul Merson who believes Smith Rowe is at his best further up the field.

The former Arsenal star told the Daily Star: “What sort of message does signing Odegaard send to Emile Smith Rowe?

“I can see why he held out signing a new contract. When Odegaard came on loan he ended up playing out on the wing. But Emile Smith Rowe is a No 10. He’s the future at Arsenal. He came through the ranks and he makes things happen.

“He is the one who is going to suffer most from them buying Odegaard. What really is the difference between them anyway? I think they are too similar. But I know who’s not getting picked if it starts going wrong and it won’t be the £30m new signing…

“I know they both played in the same team last season but it was a problem. Smith Rowe didn’t look comfortable on the wing. It’s like making a centre-back play at right-back. However hard you try, sooner or later you’re going to get dropped.”