Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard did his talking on the pitch after being urged to “step up” in the absence of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz. The Gunners have been without several key attackers for weeks and those sidelined players have proven huge misses for Mikel Arteta in the club’s title bid. Arsenal’s attack has been questioned since Saka went down with an injured hamstring in December, falling further behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race and crashing out of both domestic cups.
However, Odegaard stepped up emphatically as the Gunners became the first team in Champions League history to score seven goals away from home in a knockout match. The skipper scored twice and got an assist as Arsenal dismantled PSV 7-1, all-but securing a place in the quarter-finals, after former club striker Jeremie Aliadiere called on Odegaard to lift his performances in Eindhoven.
“It is up to Leo [Trossard] and Mikel [Merino] to try and nick a goal, bring players in the game and work hard for the team as the number nine,” Aliadiare told Express Sport with bettingtools.com. “They are crucial to Arsenal scoring and Arsenal can look to them as key striking options, but Odegaard needs to step up and contribute, which he can.
“I think Arsenal need to rotate across the front line between these two players [Merino and Trossard]. [Ethan] Nwaneri can thrive on the right-hand side and with [Jurrien] Timber or [Ben] White behind him, can be confident to get at his defender and be creative.
“With no Saka, Havertz, [Gabriel] Jesus and [Gabriel] Martinelli you are losing loads of goals and also creativity. This is a big concern, but the squad has top players who can step up and make it count for Arsenal. Captain Odegaard is key to play a big part, plus Trossard can also be key for the team.
“[Declan] Rice and [Thomas] Partey are key to dominate the midfield with Gabriel and [William] Saliba to marshal the defence to keep things tight.”
Odegaard seemingly concurred with Invincible title winner Aliadiere publicly that he can lead Arsenal to glory, showing that they can find the back of the net despite being without a number of their key men.
“When he plays with that energy and that flow, he’s a player that makes a difference in a big game like that,” Arteta said of Odegaard after the emphatic victory.
Arsenal now have a big chance to build on the seven goals scored against PSV with Premier League matches against struggling rivals Manchester United and Chelsea either side of the European return leg.
The Champions League is now Arsenal’s last resort in terms of silverware, barring a Liverpool league capitulation, and Odegaard has begun to answer calls to put the team on his back.