Former Tottenham Hotspur players Jermaine Jenas and Darren Bent have made a bet against one another based on the performances of James Maddison and Martin Odegaard this season.
It’s been a fantastic start to the season for Tottenham under new manager Ange Postecoglou. The Lilywhites are unbeaten in the Premier League so far and currently sit in the top four after six games.
At the heart of that success has been James Maddison. The 26-year-old joined Spurs this summer from Leicester City in a £40m deal which now looks to be a bargain.
Maddison took on the iconic number 10 shirt in the wake of Harry Kane‘s departure, and appears to be filling the void left behind by the talismanic forward. With six goal contributions already this season (Transfermarkt), Maddison could register big numbers this year.
The England star contributed two assists in the North London derby on Sunday, setting up his captain Heung-min Son on both occasions.
Can Maddison outperform Odegaard?
That fierce rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal will not go away, and now, talkSPORT guests Darren Bent and Jermaine Jenas have fueled the fire once more by gambling on the attacking returns of Maddison and Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard.
Jenas said: “I like Odegaard massively and I think he had an unbelievable season last year. It’s going to be interesting to see, because they have a specific job those kinds of players and it’s about goals and assists.
“I don’t think you’d sit there and say 100 per cent that Odegaard will get more goals and assists than Maddison this season.”
Bent, an Arsenal fan, then chimes in that he would actually take that bet. While host Andy Goldstein suggests a £10,000 wager, the former players eventually land on something less damaging to the bank balance but more harmful to their pride – whoever loses this bet, has to come on to the show and kiss the badge of their rival’s shirt.
Jenas added: “I can’t see it happening. I think Maddison gets the same, if not more than Odegaard.”
Odegaard currently has three goals and one assist this season (Transfermarkt).
Spurs Web Opinion
Martin Odegaard will play more games than Maddison this season due to the Champions League, but if we are talking about the Premier League exclusively, Maddison wins this battle every time.
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