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I think the current conversation around Odegaard isn’t really representative of what’s happening. I don’t actually think he’s in particularly bad form. His shooting hasn’t been good but he also overperformed here last season, so regression is expected. He’s given possession away cheaply a few times but occasionally did that last season too.
I’d argue that our inability to be technically secure enough as a team to create sustained pressure means that we’re just not spending a lot of time in a game state that suits his strengths. And the problem here is that when we’re not compressed in the opposition 3rd where he’s sitting in the pockets, he offers little else beyond his decent pressing. It’s the same thing with Jorginho and Zinny, they both like controlled game states and suffer without it, but none of these three are particularly good at helping the team to regain that game state when we lose it (at least zinny and Jorginho can try via 1st phase buildup, an option Odegaard doesn’t have).
Like we see Kai as a tactical choice to play a certain way, Odegaard must be viewed the same. He’s not a “fits every style” type player like Saliba, Rice and Saka are. But when the game suits him, he’s unbelievably good
I love Odegaard but if he isn’t a “fit every style” style player, he has no business being captain. When we’re under the pump and need stability, the guy with the armband is the first guy the boys look to. I won’t be surprised if we see Rice take up that mantle further down the line.
Somehow you’ve made the problem with Odegaard sound like praise for him. So Odegaard is needed (insanely, his primary role as a #10) to help us keep the opponent under pressure, but it’s not something he can initiate himself - you need to have a magician of a DM in Partey for that. And he is not the most creative player. And his goalscoring last season was unsustainable. And this is the player we are building our team around?
I wanted to type something similar. Odegaard’s lackluster form has more to do with the people around him. That LCM position has been a big problem point because of which we have not been able to create that sustained pressure that we have seen last season.
The good thing about Odegaard is we just need to make a few tactical adjustments and we could get the best out of him at the cost of game control.
Fair point about the over-performing last season which is a credit to Martin himself firstly and I agree that he’s not actually in a bad form, just less effective.
I feel like this is another consequence of Martin being so good last season. A lot of fans have said that teams have mostly worked out Arsenal towards the latter part of last season, hence why Mikel’s experimentations this season.
One of the key elements to Arsenal’s attacking flair was the connection between Ode and Saka - this was particularly effect at the early to mid parts of the season. However as mentioned, teams kind of found out this mostly successful recipe and doubled on Saka and man marked Ode to harass him as much as possible.
Also it’s important to consider that this Arsenal team haven’t even fully synchronized and firing in all cylinders yet this season. If Arsenal can reach the similar peak form from last season, I think it will also positively coincide with Martin’s form going up.
Again it’s a fair point and I do agree with it but the only caveat and drawback to this is that Ode is the captain. Generally dropping a captain isn’t ideal and last thing Mikel needs right now is more media outlets creating hyperbolic drama.