“He’s a Magician!” – Hakimi Names the ONE Arsenal Player PSG Stars Are Afraid of Ahead of Semi-Final Clash – It’s Not Saka or Rice
As Paris Saint-Germain prepare for a seismic Champions League semi-final showdown against Arsenal, tension is rising – and respect for the Gunners is pouring in from unexpected places.
In a stunning press conference moment, PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi couldn’t hold back his admiration – and concern – about one particular Arsenal player who left the entire PSG dressing room shaken after his last performance.
> “He’s a magician,” Hakimi said. “He performs magic and wonders with his foot. Everyone in our dressing room is currently afraid of him. His football IQ is arguably on another level.”
Fans immediately assumed he was talking about Bukayo Saka or Declan Rice — but no. Hakimi was talking about Martin Ødegaard.
Yes, the Arsenal captain, who dismantled Real Madrid’s midfield with a masterclass of vision, passing, and off-the-ball movement, is the one player PSG are dreading to face again.
> “Ødegaard sees the game two steps ahead. You can try to close him down, but he already knows where the ball’s going next. It’s scary,” Hakimi admitted.
The Moroccan international wasn’t alone in his praise. His teammate Ousmane Dembélé also spoke highly of Ødegaard just a day before:
> “What a player they have got. The way he controlled the tempo, the way he made space where there was none — it was unreal.”
Ødegaard, once seen as a teenage prodigy at Real Madrid, has evolved into one of Europe’s most intelligent playmakers under Mikel Arteta. His technical mastery, leadership, and cold composure in high-pressure games have made him a standout performer in this year’s Champions League run.
With PSG set to face Arsenal in one of the most anticipated semi-finals in recent memory, all eyes will now be on the man PSG fears the most. If Ødegaard shines again, Arsenal fans may very well start dreaming of Istanbul and the club’s first-ever UCL trophy.
What a player Arsenal have got — and Europe is finally starting to say it out loud.