Martin Odegaard’s recent form for Arsenal has been a topic of debate among fans and pundits alike. While the Norwegian captain acknowledges that his performances have fallen short of his usual high standards, the criticism he’s received has been arguably disproportionate to his actual output on the pitch.
Arsenal journalist Charles Watts has attempted to put Odegaard’s contributions into perspective via his Daily Briefing column, highlighting that the playmaker has managed five goals and seven assists in 31 appearances across all competitions this season. While these numbers may not match his career-high 15 league goals from the previous campaign, they still represent a significant impact for Arsenal.
According to Watts, several factors have contributed to Odegaard’s perceived dip in form:
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Disrupted partnerships: The long-term absences of Ben White and Bukayo Saka have significantly altered Arsenal’s right-sided attack, where Odegaard had developed an almost telepathic understanding with his teammates.
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Injury recovery: Odegaard is still finding his rhythm after returning from his first major injury, having been sidelined for three months earlier in the season.
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Tactical adjustments: As Arsenal’s primary creative force, Odegaard has had to adapt to playing with different teammates and formations, which naturally takes time.
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Increased responsibility: With limited creative options in the squad, Odegaard bears a heavier burden to orchestrate Arsenal’s attacks.
Despite these challenges, Odegaard has shown flashes of his brilliant best, as evidenced by his man-of-the-match performance in Arsenal’s recent 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. This display, which included two goals and an assist, demonstrated that the 26-year-old still possesses the quality that has made him such a crucial player for the Gunners.
As Arsenal enter the final stretch of the season, they will be hoping that Odegaard can rediscover his top form. With the team still competing in the Champions League and looking to secure a strong finish in the Premier League, Odegaard’s creativity and leadership will be vital to their success.
While it’s natural for fans to have high expectations of their captain, it’s important to consider the broader context of Odegaard’s performances. As he continues to adapt to the team’s evolving dynamics and regains full fitness, there’s every reason to believe that Martin Odegaard will soon be back to his influential best for Arsenal.
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
I agree his return from injury was too soon and I feel he is still feeling the effects, being rushed back doesn’t do any favours and not having a striker doesn’t help.
Predictable tactics make his job harder, and without Saka our right side looks as limp as our left side.
Will we continue to blame players and not blame tactics?
We have changed how many players and positions but not changed Artetaball?
Many would struggle with Predictable tactics and square pegs in round holes.
Tactics are part of the problem for sure, but so are injuries – just take a look at City who have a far better squad, resources and manager than us, yet where are they this season?
Not sure what any manager could do with no striker for a third of a season, AND your best attacker our for at least 5 months. I wonder where Liverpool would be with no Salah and 5 reds in the league for example, amongst many other injuries.
Also, players have to take some responsibility for their performances and discipline. It is a team sport remember.
I’ve looked up the definition of Artetaball and there were a few pointers – strong defensively, good transition from defence to attack and possession based football with an emphasis on using that possession to make goal scoring opportunities but nowhere is square pegs and round holes mentioned.
Was this a problem in the previous 2 seasons as I don’t recall it in any great degree? There was Arteta’s desire to have players who were not one trick ponies which I at least thought was a pretty good idea and not a deliberate ploy to play Partey at RB. Havertz who is classed as a square peg in a round hole has a very good goal scoring record and an important part of the team.
My view on the majority of this season, therefore , has been that it’s been disjointed caused by early suspensions which cost many points and crucially , injuries to key players, first in defence and made worse by the 3 months that Odegaard was sidelined. Possibly returning too soon, MO has looked washed out. Fast forward the return of Jesus and a few goals and things looked brighter only for Saka to succumb, to then be followed by the rest of the attacking lineup. I’m not surprised that he and Rice haven’t always looked sharp. Yet, to all their credit, Arsenal are still in second place and still fighting. Being so organised and boring at times this season may well be the reason why Arsenal are still in second place and not further down the league like City, Utd and Spurs
SueP
Square pegs in round holes such as Jesus as striker when he is a winger; didn’t work as striker at City, Brazil national team, or even Arsenal where Havertz has replaced him.
Or, Declan Rice, the 2nd best DM in world football (behind Rodri of course) is now an average CM in the PL.
Or Zinchenko playing at LB; dropped to bench and sold when at City, replaced how many times already at Arsenal? Timber, Tomiyasu, Calafiori, and now Lewis-Skelly. Not to mention plays CM for Ukraine and did a good job in midfield for us.
There are more examples, but I think the above has made my point without mentioning how Havertz was brought in to replace Xhaka, but unbalanced the midfield so much he now fills in as a striker.
Havertz is certainly a square peg, thats why the club is going to bring in a striker this Summer to upgrade on a hardworking square peg playing in the striker position.
Lastly about Artetaball, by “good transition from defense to attack,” is a polite way of not saying that the buildup is so deliberately slow that opponents have plenty of time to get back defensively and organize, hence our struggles in breaking down teams that have time to organize.
Possession for goal scoring opportunities? More like possession obsession to the point of endless sideways and back passing to retain possession but create nothing. We need not go through all the matches in 5 years where we had NO shots on goal, and created half a dozen chances or less.
It has been a problem for 4 out of 5 years actually, with the exception of 21-22 I believe where we played open and direct, to the envy of clubs across Europe.
It is a problem if you want trophies and titles, but if top 4 is considered a trophy again, then Artetaball will suffice, but it will not deliver a title or trophy. Even another 800 million and 5 more years won’t change the fact his tactics are sussed out now, as we see in our hit and miss performances and results.
Thank you for your response Durand
It’s a bit more pointed than I expected purely because you only highlighted one aspect of my post and ignored the rest and how the idea behind having players who can fulfil multiple roles have a place
You chose to stop to make your point. Are there any former Arsenal players who started in position A and moved to position B? Did any of them succeed? Henry for example? Hence the reason for having players that are Not what I described as one trick ponies. It’s unfortunate to me that the majority of the square pegs you highlighted are players currently playing or injured in what has been a difficult season and out of the 5 or is it 6 seasons that Arteta has been at the helm you could only find one decent season to put across your point that we have played well. I have to disagree.
I only repeated what Arteta ball is – according to various outlets. And I can only repeat that the ever so slightly boring sideways passing which is Artetaball has served us well this season. Not because it’s a fantastic product but it has been for keeping us in a steady position when all around we have faced injury after injury.
I personally think that he’s overhyped by certain fans. For me he’s a good player and nothing more.
For me his shooting when he decides to shoot, which isn’t a lot is a joke to be honest. When was the last time he scored from a freekick, and he always takes the freekicks. Why? with such a bad record. Give someone else ago.
And he takes far to many touches when he has options to move the ball on faster than he does. It just slows the play down to be honest. And what’s with the constant pirouettes that he does constantly. Is he a frustrated Bally dancer.
As I said at the beginning of the post, a good player nothing more nothing less. 😉👍
He was outstanding the previous two seasons, and I have never seen a playmaker work as hard as he does off the ball, which is a huge benefit to the team.
He has been really poor this campaign though, and if anything, should be getting more criticism than Havertz.
imo, given the challenges of this season, comparing this season to those of the past two is almost like comparing apples to oranges. The whole club from the top down is being tasked by many things whether it is abnormal injuries (and all the negatives that go along with that in addition to missing the specific players), officiating blunders, or just plain bad luck.
Reply meant for Lucy78
As a player described as “good, nothing more nothing less” by Derek, I wonder if his Transfer market value of £110,000,000 is reliable?! 🤔
OT Just read that this CL run has netted the club £102 million from the coffers of EUFA – on top of that add match day revenue etc and one can see that we could just buy another Odegaard, or even a striking forward… but let’s win the Carabo Cup instead, as we like trophies say some of our fans 🤔😂
Yea cause record books will remember the teams that made the most money or came second or third in the league .
As for what a player is worth Ken ,mentioning Transfer market as a yard stick(as a few fans do )is nothing more than guess work ,try the buying and selling team then you will know the true value of a player not some made up website that picks numbers out of thin air .
How many teams would pay 110’million for Odegaard?
My guess not very many .
How many would pay 70 for Tavares?
Haha ,not letting that one go are you Hun .
Thought the Article was about Odegaard
Maybe if JA do one on Tavares we can have that discussion jonny Rambo .
Oh and it wasn’t transfer market that put the valuation on Tavares it was the owner ,which was what I suggested to Ken .
Keep up hard man .
Dan Kit,
It seems that Ken1945, always has a pop at me in someway or another on some of my views.
It seems like I get under his skin sometimes.
Look at his pop at me because of my views on Odegaard. And as for him being worth £110 million, I must admit that did make me laugh.😂👍
Going to be honest derek ,I don’t do herd mentally on JA so I won’t be joining in on yours and Ken’s arguments,he knows after all these years I don’t need back up with my opinion and I don’t seek it .
I give my views I’m abrupt and I don’t need likes to want I post .
What I say and type on here is what I would say to the same posters faces ,something a lot of posters would t even have the nerve to do .
Read a post the other day someone asking for their postcode because they hit a nerve 👆
I will say I agree with most of your posts so that’s not a bad thing mate .
Dan Kit,
Fare enough, point taken. 😉👍
Ken1945,
Your just the fan that the owners love. One who cares more about the club gaining money over winning trophies. 🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️
You seem to have taken this personally Derek!!
I was only quoting your words and comparing them to the value Transfer Market put on Odegaard – I didn’t say who was right or wrong, just gave out two differing opinions of the player.
Don’t be so touchy and if you don’t want me to comment on what you write, just say so and I will stop.
I wonder what you think of the £100 million plus that Arteta’s squad has brought into the club from the CL?
We’re really in with the big boys once again and that’s without four forwards and, of course, a striker!!
It just shows the importance CL qualification and, in my opinion, Odegaard has been such an influence regarding this accomplishment – what say you?
Hey atleast Derek you had the privilege of Ken responding to your post .
Maybe I’m to juvenile!
Sorry DK, it seems I’m in demand lately, either for answering or not answering!!
As I’ve said many times before, the stability of the club is worth more than anything else in my opinion.
I can name many clubs who have won domestic honours but are now no longer at the top table.
Wimbledon, Derby, Notts County, Birmingham City to name a few…. that’s why I believe what being in the CL brings to the club, along with the money of course.
As for you being juvenile, I always say “if the cap fits then wear it” and your bit about “herd mentality” did make me smile, when I thought about you and HH’s constant bickering about others wanting to get people banned, but hey!
I’ve answered your question and now I’m off down to the match tomorrow, so don’t feel neglected if I miss your reply my friend!! 👍
Ken1945,
Odegaard worth £110 million.😂🤣🤷♂️👍
Odegaard is a gem of a player..granted he hasnt been at his best this season but that generally goes for the team as a unit…we have nobody in our ranks who can play that playmaker role a ably as he does and it’s glaringly clear when he is not on the pitch…we become too ponderous and lack guile and thrust …imo his is the most difficult position to replace with our current personnel
My opinions, others may/may not agree, but here are the facts
MO cost us 30M, Fabio Viera cost us 29.9M, the difference is chalk and cheese. MO is a valuable player and would make it to any top4 side.
MO’s wages are less than GabbyJ, yet MO’s contribution is 10X the contribution of GabbyJ in terms of match fitness and match performances
MO would get around 80-100M in transfer fee, how much would Viera + GabbyJ combined fetch?
Why is frustration channeled against MO, when GabbyJ has never performed since his money wasting transfer from City? Why is everyone accepting mediocre output from Kai in terms of goals ? AFC paid 65M for Kai, NU paid 63M for Isaak, 2023-24 Isaak scored 21 EPL goals, Kai 13 goals. Kai on 280K/week, Isak 120K/week.
And some fans have the audacity to make fun of the Carbao Cup not generating money, while intelligent recruitment could save tons on money. Are these people planted by the owners to post witty comments?
I have been saying for over two months that he has not been the creative force, gives the ball away and makes wrong decisions. Both Ethan and Jorginhno should have replaced him at times this season. I know his role is the first or second press too which is hard especially without Havertz but tactically the boss should have changed it so he doesn’t have to press so high, saving his energy for when we have the ball. And yet there is press talk of buying yet another non scoring defensive midfielder ( Didn’t notice him in the ManUtd v Sociedad highlights). Simply re-sign Partey, whatever it costs and buy scoring creative players plus a proper striker. Sell KT, Zinchenko, Jorg and dip into the academy again.