‘Below par’: Pundit now thinks he knows why £30m Arsenal star is looking ‘jaded’

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Former Arsenal midfielder and football journalist Adrian Clarke believes it is easy to understand why Martin Odegaard has struggled in recent weeks.

Arsenal club captain Martin Odegaard was far from his best against Sevilla and Chelsea, and as such was left out of the starting XI for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners coped well without their talismanic skipper, cruising to a 5-0 win over the Blades. However, Odegaard will surely come back into the starting XI before long, as he is undoubtedly one of the most talented players at the club.

Mikel Arteta revealed recently that one of the reasons Odegaard sat out Saturday’s fixture is that he has been “carrying a little thing that wasn’t very comfortable in the games,” as quoted by the club’s official website.

A small fitness issue may have contributed towards the Norwegian’s poor recent form. That is certainly the opinion of Adrian Clarke.

Speaking on The Handbrake Off podcast, the pundit said, “a whole week off may rejuvenate Martin who has looked a bit jaded, I think tactically we’ve struggled to get him in the game as much as last season, but it does make sense that being one of the reasons he’s been below par.”

Mikel Arteta needs to manage Martin Odegaard smartly

It remains to be seen if the £30 million former Real Madrid man will play against West Ham United in the EFL Cup clash on Wednesday evening. What is clear is that Arteta needs to handle the player with care at this stage. Odegaard is so important to the north London club, managing his fitness in a manner that ensures he is available for the club’s biggest matches is vital.

Of course, it is common for players to play with small niggles and a level of discomfort, but Arteta has built a strong, deep squad, which he can take advantage of to protect individuals when they are struggling.

There is no reason for Arsenal fans to panic about Odegaard’s loss of form. The 55-cap Norway international is a quality player who has proven how brilliant he can be in the Premier League. Given a short rest, there’s no reason to think he won’t quickly get back to his best.