Arsenal are getting by without captain Martin Odegaard in the side however, Mikel Arteta has been told that he is not the Gunners’ key player.
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Odegaard, who suffered an ankle injury during the September international break.
As a result, the Arsenal captain has missed the last four games due to injury, including the huge Premier League clashes against Tottenham and Manchester City.
Fortunately, Arteta has managed to cope without the Gunners’ key creator so far, with there a feeling of optimism that the Norweigan will return to full fitness soon.
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Gary Neville says two Arsenal players are more important than Martin Odegaard
Not only is Odegaard a magician on the ball in the final third, but he offers a lot to the side in terms of his leadership and desire to press as a unit on the pitch.
It’s clear why Arteta opted to make the 25-year-old captain, with the Norway international finding a place to call home in N5.
While Arsenal would prefer to have their prized playmaker available at all times, Gary Neville shared his stance on the midfielder with regard to his importance to the squad.
Speaking about the impact that Rodri’s injury could have on Arsenal’s title hopes on the Stick To Football podcast, Neville explained which member of Arteta’s squad would be the biggest loss.
“If you were City, you’ve just said want Odegaard out, but he wouldn’t be the first player I’d take out of Arsenal’s team,” Neville explained when replying to Ian Wright.
“I’d pick Rice or Saliba personally out of the team. I don’t know which one, Rice or Saliba, but I’d take one of them out before I take out Odegaard. I love Odegaard by the way.”
City face a battle when it comes to replacing Rodri in their favoured XI, with Neville alluding to the fact that Odegaard would be easier to replace in the squad than William Saliba or Declan Rice.
Mikel Arteta has to capitalise on Man City injury blow
It’s never pleasant to see a player face a long period on the sidelines, as Arsenal know all too well having lost Jurrien Timber for the entirety of last season to an ACL injury.
City face a nightmare when it comes to replacing Rodri, who has sustained a knee ligament injury, with no timeframe on recovery determined yet.
- READ MORE: Paul Merson makes surprising U-turn over Arsenal Premier League prediction after Rodri injury blow
Still, Pep Guardiola has a battle on his hands to fill the void that the Spaniard will leave, which is something that Arsenal had to also do during the 2022/23 campaign, something that arguably cost Arteta the title.
The Gunners were firmly in control of the title race that year, all to fall at the final hurdle, with Saliba’s injury having a part to play in the squad’s collapse.
Arteta understood the hardships of having a key player absent in the title race, something that the Spaniard must channel when considering City’s fight to replace Rodri.
City had no trouble in taking advantage of Arsenal’s huge loss in 2022/23, which the Gunners must now replicate as the Cityzen’s prepare for life without their prized midfielder.
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