Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard was by no means the only poor performer against Newcastle last night, but the Norwegian’s habit of going missing in key games is causing concern among supporters.
The £30m signing has put in some excellent displays during his first full season with the Gunners, but the midfielder has had his off days too, as he did at St James’ Park last night. Fans on Twitter were frustrated with Odegaard’s ineffective performance:
He struggles every time we go against a physical teams. He gets bullied and disappears. Also ESR should never start in front of Martinelli.
— Jo (@JosipKos88) May 16, 2022
Just like Ozil
— Ted Baigent (@tedb89) May 16, 2022
Not right to put it all on him.
— Gawdmc (@gawdmc718) May 17, 2022
If the game get physical, he hides
— \\\SAM MAKO/// (@SAMISTOS) May 16, 2022
Quite simply, you can’t disappear on the road. If you get hacked, jump up and get in their face!
— Tom Caswell (@Tcaswell12) May 17, 2022
You see why he was sold by madrid. Almost usually missing in big games. Arteta ought to have taken him out not smith.
— 𝕿🦁 (@towsynofficial) May 16, 2022
Oh where oh where has my Martin gone, oh where oh where can he beeeee
— Gio Rodriguez (@gdoto87) May 16, 2022
Honestly don't know what the noise about him was though. Speaking for myself.
— Adedotun Felix (@adedotunmcfelix) May 16, 2022
ghosting
— GuendoLad (@TP_005) May 16, 2022
We lost the Odegaard vs Maddison debate.
— #FirstNameBunchofNumbers (@WalSol1983) May 16, 2022
Hey…but the everyone said Odegaard is better than Ozil.
— Saikat Ray (@Saikat_Gunner) May 17, 2022
Odegaard was marked out of the game by the excellent Bruno Guimaraes but it doesn’t excuse the fact that he didn’t offer anything in the final third of the pitch. The best players elude their markers and, yet, the Norwegian international failed to find any space, and consequently seriously limited his team’s options when trying to create chances.
There is no doubt that his teammates didn’t help matters. Odegaard was isolated and didn’t have many passing options even when he had the ball, and he did try and put his foot in to win back possession. Ultimately, he lacked the quality to make any sort of impact on the match.
