Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal suffered a setback in their Premier League title pursuit with a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, leaving one player in particular facing heavy criticism.
The Gunners are once again chasing the league leaders—this time Arne Slot’s Liverpool—and understand that every dropped point could prove costly as the 2024/25 season nears its conclusion in May.
Jarrod Bowen’s first-half goal sealed the win for Graham Potter’s side, and Arsenal’s challenge became even tougher when Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off for bringing down Mohammed Kudus at the halfway line.
With Bukayo Saka sidelined, Martin Ødegaard has carried much of Arsenal’s creative responsibility. However, despite being widely regarded as one of the league’s top midfielders, the Norwegian struggled to fill the void in Saka’s absence.
Since joining permanently from Real Madrid in 2021 after an initial loan spell, Ødegaard has been instrumental in Arsenal’s transformation from top-four hopefuls to title challengers. But without Saka, he has found it difficult to replicate his usual influence, as seen in his subdued display against West Ham, who currently sit 14 places below Arsenal in the table.
Playing in a midfield trio with Declan Rice and Thomas Partey, Ødegaard had 89 touches but failed to create any significant chances. He also recorded a 0% success rate in crossing (0/6) and lost possession 20 times. His passing accuracy stood at 86% (60/70), limiting Arsenal’s attacking threat.
Frustrated Arsenal fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their disappointment, particularly criticizing Ødegaard’s leadership. One supporter wrote: “Ødegaard’s performance as a leader since Saka’s injury has been embarrassing.”
Another fan expressed frustration with his overall form, saying: “I hate to say it, but Ødegaard has been terrible this season. You need your captain to step up in difficult moments, but he’s been hiding.” Others compared him unfavorably to former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Özil.
Some even suggested he should be benched upon Saka’s return, with one fan advocating for young talent Ethan Nwaneri to take his place: “When Saka is back, drop Ødegaard to the bench and start Nwaneri. He has been an embarrassment, can’t step up when we need him most.”
Criticism extended to his passing ability, with one user stating: “Ødegaard’s weight of pass is not at the level. The receiver always has to adjust their run.” Another fan was even harsher: “I’ve never seen a weaker player than Martin Ødegaard. He gets bullied every game.”
As Arsenal look to bounce back from this defeat, Ødegaard faces mounting pressure to rediscover his form and lead the team through this crucial phase of the season.
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