Martin Odegaard has largely enjoyed unwavering support from Arsenal fans throughout his tenure at the club, having taken on the captain’s armband and helped lead the Gunners through a period of significant progress. Last season, he was central to Arsenal’s title challenge, which went all the way to the final day, cementing his place as a key figure both on and off the pitch.
Naturally, expectations were high heading into the current campaign. Arsenal were tipped to go one step further and finally secure the Premier League title. While that dream has now slipped away with Liverpool sealing top spot, hope remains alive in Europe, where Arsenal still have a shot at Champions League glory. For that to happen, they need their captain to lead by example, both in terms of quality and mentality.
Unfortunately, Odegaard’s performances this season have been inconsistent, and the criticism has intensified following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to PSG in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The Gunners were unable to take advantage of home soil at the Emirates, and several senior players, including the Norwegian playmaker, came under scrutiny.
According to Football Insider, a portion of the fanbase has begun questioning Odegaard’s leadership credentials. While still a minority, some supporters have gone as far as to suggest he should be stripped of the captaincy unless there’s a significant uptick in form and influence. The suggestion has sparked debate about what is expected from a club captain, especially when results do not go the team’s way.
That said, calls to remove him from the role feel premature. Odegaard remains a technically gifted player with a strong understanding of Mikel Arteta’s system, and his leadership is typically expressed through composure and consistency rather than aggression or vocal dominance. The current criticism may be more reflective of overall frustration with recent results than a true indictment of his leadership.
There’s no question that Arsenal need more from their captain on the pitch if they are to overturn the deficit in the second leg and reach the Champions League final. But leadership is also about resilience, and this is a moment where Odegaard has the chance to silence his critics and reaffirm why he was chosen to wear the armband in the first place.
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Not just a new captain but a new number 10 .
Testify!
I’ve got a sneaky feeling his ankle ligament injury that he had earlier this season is still causing him problems. Hopefully a summers rest will sort it out.
I agree
I did, he requires surgery on it but postponed to the end of the season and currently having injections to pkay
Ben 👍
OT but watching Inter v Barca , wow what a game but we couldn’t live with either of them!
Terrific game so far.
Inter we could
We could get at Barcelona from set pieces
Mesut Ozil mk2. Started well, created quite a few chances, does not score as many goals as he should, nowhere near. And then being carried in the team. He needs replacing, not reliable.
People are very reactionary though. The moment he stops pressing for 90 minutes would be the time this question is raised. Not being out of form for the 1st time in 4 years. Let’s hope a full preseason brings him back to his very best aye..
The question hasn’t just been raised. It was raised a good few weeks ago. He is not a great Captain and over 4 seasons he has gone missing at the sharp end regularly. He needs replacing and then needs to see if he is capable of fighting back. He can not be trusted to carry the team next season.
PSG had ZERO injuries last night……….. Did anyone here notice that? And they had the luxury to substitute…….while the MIGHTY ARSENAL…….. CRUMBLED in disbelief as the curtains closed down on them at their own back yard.
It’s time some people are held accountable for lack of proper planning at the helm of this massive club.
Yeah mate
Let down by owners
Embarrassing that in a Champions League Semi Final we can be left with so little resources
When you see us run like that compared to PSG we don’t deserve to be Champions Of Europe
And that has to do with what, concerning our Captain’s performances?
We have performed similar at tge beginning of tge season with a full squad. Its 11 v 11 of professional footballers. The tactis are more to blame for the team performance.
There are any number of reactionary fans who are quick to look for scapegoats whenever we have these setbacks.
Some of the same people have never respected Odegaard and bring up the nonsense about the captainship every so often. It’s a overly hyped issue just so some loudmouths can have yet another go at bashing a player they have an issue with.
😂
Your post lacks perspective, devoid of hindsight, missing context and broadly unrealistic.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 thats your only answer?
Oh and I have no ossue with Odergaard, just his performance. Fool.
David,
I notice you like using the term loudmouths, you’ve used it more than once.
I’m one of those loudmouths you appear to be talking about, as I call out Odegaard’s more than ordinary performances.
But don’t worry, as it appears that our great captain is playing with the aid of injections for his still injured ankle. What he’s doing in the team if that’s the case is anyone’s guess.
Another piece of great management by our great leader, Arteta. 🙄
@Reggie
I don’t think you remember who MOzil was as our player apart from the controversies.
Odegaard comes no close in that class.
Yeah I agree Ozil was allot better then Odegarrd
The point is, Ozil like Odergaard, started ok, then dissappeared.
I’m not sure he did but that’s another debate for another day
Plus both got same initials 🤣
This idea has occurred to me as well. Seems to me Declan Rice is acting with more authority and leads by example with all the work he puts in on or off the ball. I still like Odegaard, just don’t think he acts like a captain.
Truth be told, Odegaard hasn’t influenced anyting positive this season. We need something diff next season
The coach is over using players, because we don’t have like for like on the bench. let’s deal with transfers this summer at least for once….we need players to help us get over the line……… The captain last night was calling for his troops to go forward in most part of the match and that was incredible.
Year in year out we fail short of glory because of numbers……. lack of proper squard rotation is costing us trophies 🏆🏆🏆
These players are not animals they are humans…….. Our club should manage them well…
Nwaneri should be used in his stead
Odegaard was never my choice for captain, but my major concern is that this season he has been poor as a number 10. On his best day he is good, but not great. Rice should be captain and we need a better number 10. This is not an emotional reaction to the loss, it’s a pragmatic assessment.
And here is another proof the substandard manager is being carried by his players.
Here we have a team captain who was vital to our title challenges two seasons ago looking a shell of his former self.
What has the manager do about it? Why has he failed to coach him back to his previous form?
I do not believe MO should be stripped of captaincy. Despite not being in great form, he leads the press very well.
But nobody is un-substitutable in a game. In this game, MO needed to be substituted at the 60 – 70 minute mark to give EN a chance to effect the game. That is a failure of Arteta in not being more bold in that situation.
If certain posts that I’m reading is true regarding Odegaard carrying an ankle injury that may need surgery and he’s on injections, then what the heck is he doing playing in the team.
Because it can’t be for his performance’s, because he just isn’t performing full-stop is he.
Stop making excuses for him, if he’s injured he shouldn’t be anywhere near the team. What benefit are we getting from playing him, none as far as I can see. 🙄
Key factor is that even the blindest Arteta head must have noticed that Odegaard is not doing his job. There could be a number of factors such as nagging injuries or domestic issues. We don’t know for certain, but the main one for me is that he is our only creative player and simply can’t do it all on his own. It’s just too predictable. Odegaard is passed the ball, he will look for Saka or sometimes Martinelli, no centre forward, no overlapping wing backs with the skills to trouble a flat footed defence. Meanwhile as Odegaard ponders who his few available go to options are, the opposition defence will have picked them out and closed them down. From this point on Odegaard is contained because he doesn’t have the physicality to take players on and find a way through. To cut a long story short, Odegaard needs help and Arsenal need a young dynamic creative midfielder, who can spark the left side.
So what you are saying is, 5 years and we still can’t get it right.
Bingo. We haven’t yet, have we Reggie?
Even though odegaard has nowadays lost his creative vision and no longer anticipate movements well,time runs into the box and make split-second decisions perfectly like he used to, his passing ability, excellent work rate and stamina still make him an important player in our squad.
Yes, Kilza, Odegaard shouldn’t be expected to do it all on his own.
Joe. S,
Odegaard’s doing nothing on his own, that’s the problem. He’s doing nothing. 🙄
To be fair, he runs around a lot!!!!! Then again so did Forest Gump.
Reggie,
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂👍😉
And don’t forget the incessant arm waving.😂🤣👍😉
Thats probably why he has no energy to shoot. He wants to be careful, he could dislocate a shoulder.