GAARD OF HONOUR
Martin Odegaard holds the key to Arsenal’s title hopes – three ways the ‘sublime’ midfielder transforms the Gunners
Expect to see Saka back at his best thanks to Odegaard's brilliance
ARSENAL’S recent revival has coincided - not surprisingly - with the return of Martin Odegaard from injury.
The Norwegian is Mikel Arteta’s captain and very much the leader of the team.
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Arsenal look a different side when he is in the starting XI, and they sorely missed him when he was out with an ankle injury.
He makes them tick, and was at his very best last weekend in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and in their 5-1 Champions League hammering of Sporting Lisbon.
Ex-Chelsea legend and BBC pundit Pat Nevin could hardly contain his enthusiasm for the way he pulled the strings.
He said: “The mutual understanding of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard was extraordinary, bordering on psychic.
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“The latter was playing on a different level to anyone else and several levels above every Forest player.
“Odegaard was sublime, almost balletic, seeing spaces, gliding into them and effortlessly making passes that his opponents couldn’t even imagine. It all reminded me of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva at their peak.
“Arsenal with Odegaard back in the side look as good, if not better than ever, and this was without the rested Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.”
Here are three ways he makes Arsenal a much more formidable team and why he holds the key to the Gunners’ title aspirations this season.
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Right-side combinations
Arsenal's form dipped while Odegaard was out injured, winning just three of their seven Premier League matches.
Given the Gunners' quality, opponents tend to sit deep and try to cut off the passing lanes into Saka - some even double or triple up on him.
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But with Odegaard in the team and playing as the right-sided central midfielder in Arteta's 4-3-3, Arsenal are far more dangerous.
Jurrien Timber combines with and makes a run behind the defensive line
This creates space for Odegaard to receive the ball from Saka and then deliver a dangerous cross to the far post.
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When Odegaard was out, we saw the likes of Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, Rice and Jorginho played in midfield - but they lack the creativity and positional awareness of the skipper.
The only player that possesses similar attributes to him is wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri, 17, hence calls for him to get more minutes.
Odegaard is comfortable coming out wide and into the channels to overload the opposition and pull players out of position.
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It hands Saka more in space and therefore Arsenal are not reliant on one player to break down a deep defensive block.
Odegaard comes out to receive the ball wide and Timber runs inside. These inter-changing movements are tough for opponents to cope with.
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Finding space
Odegaard is a midfielder who provides value for Arsenal both in the way he finds angles for playing progressive passes and in his positioning and movement to receive progressive passes.
He scans constantly and moves into areas where he is tough to pick up.
When Rice is on the ball, Timber moves inside to support.
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Odegaard shifts and positions himself centrally in a pocket of space to receive the ball and combine with Jorginho.
These quick passes help Arsenal move the ball up the pitch with purpose and break down what is a compact Forest defensive shape.
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While the positioning and movement from Odegaard is very good, his technical level is sublime.
The ex-Real Madrid star can receive passes in the final third and have the poise to release an attacking player like Saka into positions that hurt the last line of the opposition defence.
Again, Rice is in possession and as he turns forward, the movement and positioning of Odegaard allows the ball to be played through and beyond the opposition midfield.
When the 25-year-old playmaker is missing they simply do not have a player who can find these positions consistently and deep defences can frustrate them
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Creating space for Saka
When Odegaard was missing from the Arsenal team we saw a downturn in the form of Saka.
This was because teams were starting to try to double or even triple up on him.
With Odegaard in the team and positioning himself higher, we see opponents pulled apart as they try to keep both him and Saka quiet.
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To account for the Norwegian’s positioning, they are not able to commit as many players to covering the threat of the England winger.
Arsenal's No8 can receive centrally and then drive at the heart of the opposition's defensive line.
A left-back or left-holding midfielder then has a dilemma. Close down Odegaard and leave Saka open or stay on Saka and give a player of Odegaard's skill time on the edge of their box.
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And in the next example, Odegaard is in position to receive the ball in the channel.
His positioning has attracted a defensive player to the ball and Saka is able to pick it up 1vs1 against the full-back, where he is simply unplayable.
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On Gaard
Odegaard is perhaps Arsenal's most important player.
Not only is he the club captain and leader on and off the pitch, he is the key to providing the link between midfield and attack.
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Without him the Gunners are one dimensional, much less dangerous and will not win the title.
With him they have a far better chance, although Liverpool may disagree...
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