'Arsenal must immediately exclude Odegaard from the squad'

The captain of Arsenal's declining performance has sparked intense debate, with increasing calls to remove Odegaard from the starting lineup.

The dramatic defeat against Manchester United at Emirates not only caused Arsenal to slip in the Premier League race but also placed Martin Odegaard at the center of criticism. The Gunners' captain delivered another lackluster performance, leaving Arsenal's midfield devoid of creativity and control as initially expected.

Once regarded as the soul of Arsenal’s play, Odegaard built a solid reputation by consistently featuring in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. At that time, the Norwegian midfielder symbolized finesse, rhythm, and leadership, qualities Arsenal currently sorely lacks.

This season tells a completely different story. After many rounds in the Premier League, Odegaard has only scored once and provided three assists. These modest stats are even more disappointing given that he still regularly starts and holds the captain’s armband for the North London club.

In the match against Man Utd, Odegaard again started, marking his seventh consecutive league start. However, Arsenal fell short in a five-goal thriller, with a late decisive moment rendering all the Emirates’ team’s efforts meaningless.

Arteta showed clear dissatisfaction by substituting Odegaard in the 58th minute, replacing him with Eberechi Eze. This decision came before the opponent’s winning goal and was accompanied by further substitutions of key players, as a desperate attempt to change the game’s momentum.

After the match, harsh opinions quickly surfaced. Former England striker Darren Bent told talkSPORT: “Next weekend in the Premier League, Odegaard has to be out. Out! That’s the reality,” a statement that highlighted the growing impatience with the Norwegian midfielder’s current form, especially with Arsenal’s domestic return approaching.

Confidence in Odegaard is further shaken when compared to the impact Eze has made when given chances. “He’s not contributing anything. Give Eze four or five games,”Bent said. This assessment puts Arteta in a tough position, as Arsenal has limited room for experimentation if they want to keep their title ambitions alive.