Arsenal are having problems with their attack at the moment.
Yes, the Gunners have scored 15 times in their last six games, which is a terrific return, but just two of those goals have come in the Premier League.
Against Kairat in the Champions League, however, Arsenal created so many chances that it could’ve been a cricket score, but they failed to convert them.
Viktor Gyokeres has been criticised more than everyone else for the lack of goals, but Paul Scholes believes another Arsenal player is to blame – Martin Odegaard.
What is the biggest factor behind Martin Odegaard’s recent struggles? 🤔
Paul Scholes thinks Martin Odegaard is the ‘problem’ at Arsenal
Odegaard has come under a lot of criticism at Arsenal this season.
The Norway international has had a difficult campaign. He had two shoulder injuries early this term, and that was followed by a knee issue that kept him out for several weeks.
Since his return, Odegaard has had a couple of excellent games, but he has looked nothing like his usual self in the other fixtures.
That is one of the reasons why Arsenal are not creating enough chances in the Premier League, and Scholes thinks he knows the mistake Odegaard is making.
He said on the Stick to Football podcast: “I would say Odegaard could be the problem, because Odegaard plays as a number 10. It’s his job to make your team play good football, good attacking football.
“I don’t think he does it enough. I think he drops into midfield. I like him. Technically, he’s brilliant. He’s good to watch. But he drops into the midfield (too much).
“I played number 10. If I came into the midfield area and played where Roy (Keane) should be, Roy will say, f— off, get up there. He (Odegaard) doesn’t do it enough in those areas, where it wins games for your team.
“You think about a team we watch win the league. Liverpool, Manchester City, exciting to watch. They’re exciting to watch because of people like David Silva, people like Phil Foden receiving the ball on the edge of the box, where it’s important.
“And it (dropping into midfield) also kills your centre forward as well. The centre forward’s got nobody to play with.”
Agree or disagree: Martin Odegaard should NOT be deemed untouchable in next summer’s transfer window…
Eberechi Eze will not solve the Martin Odegaard problem at Arsenal
After Odegaard’s struggles, Arsenal fans have been calling for Eberechi Eze to start in his place, but that will not fix anything.
The England international doesn’t look comfortable at all as a right-sided number eight. He is far less effective in that role compared to the opposite side, where Declan Rice starts every game.
For that reason, Eze is not the solution, but one player who could be is Kai Havertz.
The German looked outstanding in Odegaard’s position in the game against Kairat in the Champions League, and he made Gyokeres look incredible too.
Havertz should be the first-choice starter in that role going forward, but Mikel Arteta needs to be careful about his fitness in the coming weeks.
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