MARTIN ODEGAARD’S secret SOCK code for Arsenal’s sensational set-piece success could have been cracked – by Match of the Day.
Pundit Ashley Williams reckon he’s worked out why the Gunners were so “trigger” happy in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.
BBCMartin Odegaard appears to indicate where he wants corners delivered[/caption]
RexOdegaard could have been busted over a ‘signal’ at corners[/caption]
The former Everton defender spotted midfielder Odegaard appearing to signal to Arsenal’s corner-taker – via his SOCKS.
Gabriel Magalhaes headed the Gunners in front from one such delivery.
Then the same centre-back provided an assist when Palace keeper Dean Henderson netted an own goal following another corner.
That’s an impressive ratio as Arsenal only had six corners all match.
And it confirmed the Gunners as the Premier League’s top scorers from set-pieces this season.
Ex-Wales star Williams said on the BBC’s MOTD: “There’s always a trigger for what the movement’s going to be.
“We can see they have worked on whether it’s a front-post corner or a back-post corner.
“If you keep an eye on Odegaard, we feel – maybe we’ve had too much time on our hands – but we feel that maybe he’s signalling something to the corner taker.”
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The former Swansea hero, 39, suggested the Norwegian playmaker sends something like a footnote to his team-mates during games.
Williams explained: “He’s in the same place for every corner and he’s playing with his socks.
“There is synchronicity regarded whether they go to the front or the back. Every clip we see here he is doing the same thing where he’s playing with his socks. It might be coincidence, yes.
“But it is a big coincidence that he’s always there and always doing something with his sock.”
However, there is one unsurprising part in Williams’ assessment.
He believes Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover is the man behind the apparent plan.
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