Paul Scholes, a midfield maestro of a bygone era, hasn’t held back in his assessment of Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard. The Manchester United legend believes the Norwegian captain possesses undeniable technical brilliance, a joy to watch with the ball at his feet. However, a crucial element is missing from Odegaard’s game, a vital ingredient for truly elite playmakers.
Scholes’ core criticism centers on Odegaard’s tendency to drift into midfield. For a player tasked with unlocking defenses from the number ten position, this habit is, in Scholes’ view, a fundamental flaw. He recalls a time when such behavior would be met with fierce rebuke from teammates, a demand to stay higher up the pitch where game-winning opportunities arise.
The lack of a consistent attacking presence alongside summer signing Viktor Gyokeres is also a concern. Gyokeres, a proven goalscorer during his time at Sporting Lisbon, has found himself isolated, starved of the service he thrived on previously. This disconnect, Scholes argues, stifles Arsenal’s attacking potency.
Scholes draws a stark contrast between Arsenal’s current approach and the dynamic, exhilarating football of recent Premier League champions like Liverpool and Manchester City. He points to players like David Silva and Phil Foden, who consistently receive the ball in dangerous areas, on the edge of the box, where decisive moments are forged.
This positional issue isn’t just impacting goalscoring opportunities; it’s also hindering the team’s overall attacking flow. Odegaard’s deeper positioning effectively isolates the central striker, leaving him with limited support and fewer chances to impact the game. A thriving attacking partnership is, according to Scholes, “imperative” to playing truly good football.
Despite the critique, a glimmer of hope emerged in Arsenal’s recent Champions League fixture. Viktor Gyokeres found the back of the net, and crucially, he enjoyed a promising first start alongside Kai Havertz. The pair displayed an immediate understanding, hinting at a potential solution to Arsenal’s attacking woes.
Gyokeres himself acknowledged the positive feeling of scoring and contributing to the team’s victory. While he believes the overall performance could have been sharper, he expressed satisfaction with finding the net and highlighted the encouraging connection with Havertz, even in the limited time they had on the pitch together.
Havertz, returning to the starting lineup for the first time in months, also seemed to relish the opportunity to play alongside Gyokeres. Their budding partnership offers a potential pathway for Arsenal to unlock their attacking potential and address the concerns raised by a discerning observer like Paul Scholes.
