LUTON ace Ross Barkley has claimed an Arsenal star asked him to stop running at him during their Premier League thriller.
The Hatters gave the current Prem leaders a real run for their money at Kenilworth Road earlier this month.
Rob Edwards’ troops suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to the Gunners, although Luton fans were proud as punch with their team’s display.
Barkley was one of the Hatters’ star men, putting the home side 3-2 up before goals from Kai Havertz and Declan Rice denied them victory.
And his performance that night prompted a surprise comment from Gunner skipper Martin Odegaard.
Barkley told The Times: “Martin Odegaard did say, ‘You have to stop running at me with the ball!’
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“Teams expect Luton to be more direct. With me, I try and bring calmness to the middle of the park, suck a few players in and give other players more time on the ball.
“Declan [Rice] is physical. Odegaard is less physical, but is world-class on the ball.
“When I had the ball, I knew I could move the ball away from him.”
Former Chelsea and Everton star Barkley joined Luton in the summer as a free agent.
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Luton gaffer Edwards has been thrilled by the England midfielder’s displays of late but believes his best is yet to come.
He said: “We know there’s more to come from Ross, it is exciting and that’s why we brought him to the club as well.
“We really believed in him, we knew he could make a difference. He helps us become a different team and he is getting better game on game.
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“Someone like him we’re going to need him as well, all his experience, all his quality, but it’s not just that, his running, his work ethic, his desire to run for the team has been brilliant as well.
“He’s just been great around the place, I think he’s really enjoying his football.”
Barkley and his Luton team-mates will be back in action on Saturday, welcoming Newcastle United to Kenilworth Road.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
