Paul Scholes has criticized Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard for being too reliant on teammate Bukayo Saka.
Chatting with fellow Manchester United legend Gary Neville, Scholes claimed the Arsenal captain has struggled with out his midfield team-mate for giant components of this season.
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“I feel Odegaard hyperlinks effectively with Saka, so not having Saka is an issue,” Scholes mentioned on the overlap.
“I do not suppose he can construct that a lot of a relationship with Viktor Gokeres as a result of he isn’t that kind of participant. Possibly he might do it with Kai Havertz.”
Saka has simply returned to the group after a brief hiatus. The 24-year-old’s struggles with harm have been a priority for Arsenal followers for years. Final season, he missed 21 video games with a torn hamstring. This season he has suffered additional hamstring issues, a hip drawback and an Achilles harm, however Arteta is normally cautious about revealing particulars of the newest drawback, saying solely: “It is one thing he is had for some time.”
His return to motion noticed the Gunners return to the highest of the Premier League with a win in opposition to Newcastle.
Martin Odegaard’s function must be reconsidered
The priority is that Odegaard’s place is flawed with out Saka.
Scholes claimed the Norwegian midfielder was “not taking part in his place correctly”.
Talking concerning the Newcastle sport, Scholes continued: “Half of the time I noticed him within the first 20 minutes, he was just about the deepest man. That soccer, it is simply bull***.”
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“You marvel why there isn’t any stream within the group when he is behind Martin Zvimendi and behind Declan Rice. How are you going to get a connection there?”
Requested whether or not the poor positioning was Arteta’s fault or the gamers themselves, Scholes replied: “Whether or not they say it or not, Odegaard is a quantity 10 and Odegaard connects the midfield play with the ahead play.”
Martin Odegaard might nonetheless be key to Arsenal’s success
Regardless of Scholes’ criticism, the Arsenal captain is ready to play a key function within the coming weeks. He has been a key determine within the group’s success below Arteta and was named the membership’s Participant of the Season in 2023 and 2024.
He has had a troublesome season tormented by accidents and has solely appeared in 22 video games to this point, down from 30 final season and 37 in 2022-23. There is not any doubt he is had a troublesome season, but when he and Saka can keep wholesome, the pair might show succesful within the coming video games.
