Martin Odegaard sends three Brighton stars for a hotdog as stunned Rio Ferdinand leads praise for skilful Arsenal star

RIO FERDINAND was absolutely loving it as Martin Odegaard sent three Brighton players for a hotdog on Saturday night.

Arsenal stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points as they romped to a 4-2 win over the Seagulls.

Sky SportsMartin Odegaard left three Brighton stars bamboozled[/caption]

Sky SportsThe Norwegian found himself being closed down by three defenders[/caption]

Sky SportsHe calmly slipped the ball through Lewis Dunk’s legs towards Gabriel Martinelli[/caption]

Bukayo Saka got them off to a flyer before Norwegian midfielder Odegaard doubled their advantage.

Eddie Nketiah grabbed a third before Gabriel Martinelli netted a fourth to thwart an attempted rally by Brighton. 

However, there was one moment midway through the first half that had Manchester United legend Ferdinand drooling.

Odegaard had the ball just inside the home side’s box as three defenders closed in on him.

But the former Real Madrid showed his ice-coldness as he waited for them to lunge in before nutmegging the despairing Lewis Dunk while slipping a pass in for team-mate Martinelli.

Tariq Lamptey and Adam Lallana were left just as equally baffled as Dunk.

Ferdinand instantly took to Twitter to declare: “I need that Odegaard bit of skill on repeat.”

And fans were just as quick to react to the piece of magic.

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One tweeted: “Almost the assist of the season.”

Another wrote: “Ah man. It was disgusting! Top that.”

While a fellow viewer commented: “Captain Odegaard is a different gravy this season. 7G & 5A through 15 games, passes his total tally from last season. The Magician.”

Odegaard’s goal was his seventh of the season so far for Arsenal.

Now he will be hoping to add to that tally when the Gunners welcome Newcastle to the Emirates on Tuesday.

Discussing what impact Man City’s draw with Everton earlier in the day had on them, Odegaard said after tonight’s victory: “To be honest, we focus on ourselves. We don’t care about the other teams.

“Three points was everything today and we did it. Maybe we need to control the game a bit better, we let them in a couple of times, but they are a good team, good on the ball.”

And on his goal and then assist for Martinelli, he added: “I think it was a great goal. I am happy to help the team with goals and assists and I am very happy to do that again.

“I saw there was a lot of space in behind and our wingers are so quick. It is not easy to stop Gabriel Martinelli in that position.”

Martin Odegaard got a goal and assist in the win at BrightonRichard Pelham / The Sun