Jamie Carragher has now named Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard amongst the four ‘average’ Arsenal players he feels are hurting their bid to win the Premier League title.
The Liverpool hero believes Saka and Odegaard emphasise the regression seen at Arsenal so far this season. He also feels that Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have, likewise, been ‘average’ at best this term. Even though the Gunners have deployed more offensive line-ups.
Carragher feels Mikel Arteta has been more aggressive with his sides this season by starting Leandro Trossard or Kai Havertz in central midfield. They have assumed the place that Granit Xhaka used to great effect last term. He scored seven and assisted seven goals in 37 games.
Injury issues have hit Saka and Arsenal’s star attackers this season
Only Martinelli, Odegaard (15), Saka (14) and Jesus (11) scored more goals than Xhaka in the Premier League for Arsenal last season. Yet Eddie Nketiah is their top scorer so far this term on five goals in 13 appearances. The striker heads Saka (4) plus Trossard and Odegaard (3).
Jesus, meanwhile, has only scored once across eight games amid his injury-hit campaign to date. Martinelli has also only hit the back of the net once having also missed matches due to an injury. Fitness problems have also thwarted Odegaard and restricted Saka’s involvement.
Saka has started 12 of Arsenal’s 13 games but missed their win over Manchester City due to an injury. He also sustained issues against Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth. While Odegaard sat out a win over Sheffield United due to an injury before suffering a concussion.
Carragher believes Odegaard and co have been ‘average’ at best
Carragher believes Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli and Jesus all failing to replicate the form seen from them last season is hurting Arsenal’s bid to win the Premier League. Saka has the most assists by a Gunners star so far this term with five, pipping Fabio Vieira (3) and Martinelli (2).
“At times, they’ve actually been more offensive [than last term],” Carragher told Sky Sports. “But the reason I don’t think they are as fluid, I just think, individually, the attacking players have been average this season.
“Whereas they were on absolute fire last season, in terms of Martinelli, Saka [and] Jesus. Odegaard, for me, last season was up there alongside Kevin de Bruyne. I know he’s had a few injury problems but, when we actually look at the stats, [he has also regressed].”
Carragher notes their minutes-per-goal rate to justify his view on them being ‘average’. Saka has the best rate at 259 minutes but scored once every 228 last term. While Odegaard has fallen from 210 to 293, Jesus went from 189 to 430 and Martinelli dropped from 187 to 806.
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