Mikel Arteta refrained from resting Martin Odegaard in Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Girona and the Spaniard may have regretted this decision as the captain produced a timid performance.
Arsenal ran out 2-1 winners in Northern Spain, with a penalty from Jorginho and a wonderful strike from Ethan Nwaneri cancelling out Arnaut Danjuma’s early goal.
The result ensured a top-eight finish in the inaugural league phase of the prestigious European competition for the Gunners, meaning they avoid an additional knockout round.
The route to the final has been mapped out, with Arteta’s team matching up against one of Juventus, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord in the last 16.
With several key players given the night off in Girona, Odegaard wasn’t afforded that luxury, and he certainly wasn’t at his best.
Arsenal fans critical of Martin Odegaard’s display against Girona
Odegaard missed Arsenal’s game against Wolves on the weekend through illness, and it looked as though he may still have been feeling the effects of this on Wednesday night.
In reality, the Norwegian has been struggling to rediscover his best form since returning from an ankle injury that kept him out for two months earlier in the season.
The Gunners faithful were quick to pick up on the playmaker’s meek outing, taking to twitter to voice their thoughts.
Some fans were concerned about Odegaard’s lack of goal threat, with one supporter comparing his output to Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott.
Another added: “On my life Odegaard in that Nwaneri position passes to Sterling.”
One supporter criticised the player’s shooting technique all together: “Odegaard shoots like a child. Leaning back, 0 power, no accuracy. Extremely poor.”
Some issued more in-depth thoughts about Odegaard’s lack of willingness to shoot or attack open spaces in general.
One wrote: “Martin Odegaard has the worst spacial awareness/game reading and is costing us from attacking and taking advantage of them.
“Consistently dropping back rather than exploiting danger zones. We need an upgrade that can read the game well and help attack rather than side passing to centre-back.”
Meanwhile, another wrote: “Odegaard just doesn’t do enough for me to justify both being captain and being an undisputed starter A passenger in most games where you really need him (especially away at big clubs).”
Arsenal fans need to remain patient with Martin Odegaard
When Odegaard was absent earlier in the season, Arsenal struggled to find a creative spark, while their press became significantly less effective.
In the immediate weeks after returning, the Gunners looked free-flowing and fluid again in attacking areas, and that was largely down to Odegaard’s reintrodution.
Since then, the midfielder has had to play almost every single minute for Arteta’s team, whilst becoming a father for the first time and dealing with the effects of a serious knee injury.
He looks fatigued and probably hasn’t fully been able shake off the impact of his setback.
Despite that, he remains Arsenal’s most creative player statistically by some distance, creating more chances than any other player in the North Londoners’ squad this season.
Odegaard certainly isn’t on top form, but he has the ability to lead Arsenal to major honours and patience in him needs to be renewed.
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