Arsenal lost 2-1 to Aston Villa on matchday 15 of the Premier League season, giving Mikel Arteta plenty of pointers.
There’s no need for Arsenal to panic after losing to Villa was the message from Gary Neville after the Gunners’ first defeat since August.
Emiliano Buendia’s stoppage-time winner was painful but deserved, as Unai Emery got the better of Arteta on the day.
The Arsenal manager will be eager to make a few tweaks after a handful of his players struggled against Villa, with one dilemma in the squad straying even further away from being resolved.
Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze have a lot to battle for after Aston Villa defeat
Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze is a question Arteta has had to answer since the Englishman’s transfer was completed.
At Villa Park, Arteta started Eze and Odegaard, handing the Arsenal captain the number ten role to move Eze over to the left.
As Eze struggled immensely against Villa, it became clearer than ever that the 27-year-old is best suited to the central role, but did Odegaard do enough to end the argument?
Not particularly, is the answer.
The race for #10, did Martin Odegaard just overtake Eberechi Eze?
Martin Keown named Odegaard as his Man of the Match, but the midfielder’s performance was by no means faultless.
Though the skipper came close to scoring and assisting, a common theme that happened continually was how, when on the ball, he all but killed momentum.
Instead of eyeing a quick pass to play or pull off an intricate movement, Odegaard often buffered in possession, making Arsenal far more predictable in the final third.
His approach was the opposite of what we’ve seen from Eze, who has been one of Arsenal’s best this season, sparking even more discussion on who deserves the starting spot in the number ten role.
Arsenal fans send feedback on Martin Odegaard’s performance vs Aston Villa
Odegaard was by no means bad against Villa, but he didn’t bring a spark to the starting XI enough to make a difference.
On social media, fans were split in their opinion on Odegaard, with some echoing the opinion that the playmaker takes too long on the ball when Arsenal perhaps need him to be more efficient.
What is Martin Odegaard’s biggest flaw?
Can Eberechi Eze take advantage?
“Fundamental problem with Odegaard is it takes him 5 seconds to make a decision and execute a pass the best playmakers in the sport do in 2 seconds.”
Another Arsenal fan agreed, “Takes too any touches and hugs Saka up the flank.”
Some supporters were stronger with their opinions on X, as fingers were pointed at Odegaard after the defeat, something Arteta wouldn’t appreciate, as he clearly prefers the Norwegian.
“No coincidence that Odegaard comes back in and we look flat,” an X user wrote.
“Odegaard comes back and we can’t play football,” another added.
Some then brought Eze into the discussion.
One said, “Just give Eze the 10 man we’re shifting him for Odegaard who doesn’t do ANYTHING.”
Another agreed, “Eze is not a winger, stop moving him from his best position to accommodate Odegaard. Ø has not worked his way back to the starting 11.”
The debate is one that will take many paths throughout the season, but after the Villa defeat, Arteta is, unfortunately, none the wiser.
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