Martin Ødegaard has long been viewed as one of Arsenal’s most consistent and influential performers. As club captain, he carries the responsibility of leading not just by voice but through his actions on the pitch, and last season, he did exactly that. With a string of commanding performances, important goals, and decisive assists, the attacking midfielder was central to the Gunners’ impressive push for the Premier League title. His ability to dictate the tempo of matches, link midfield to attack, and contribute in the final third made him a standout player across the league.
Heading into the current campaign, expectations around Ødegaard were understandably high. Supporters and pundits alike believed he was poised to take his game to yet another level, helping Arsenal maintain their status as title contenders while also making a deeper run in the UEFA Champions League. He has continued to perform well for the Norwegian national team, most recently delivering another strong display during the international break. However, his club form has failed to mirror that consistency, and there is growing concern within the Arsenal camp that he is yet to return to his best following an injury sustained in the first half of the season.
Ødegaard missed a crucial spell due to the injury and has since struggled to reach the same levels of sharpness and influence that characterised his 2022–23 campaign. His touch has often looked heavy, his passing less incisive, and his positioning at times reactive rather than proactive. While there have been flashes of brilliance, they have come too infrequently for a player of his calibre and importance to the team.
Complicating matters further was the absence of Bukayo Saka during part of Ødegaard’s recovery period. The pair share one of the most effective partnerships in Arsenal’s attack, regularly combining down the right-hand side to devastating effect. Saka’s ability to stretch defences and create space has always benefited Ødegaard’s style of play. With Saka now back in the side, there were expectations that the midfielder’s performances would pick up once more. So far, however, that resurgence has not materialised.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal’s coaching staff are increasingly puzzled by Ødegaard’s continued dip in form. There is no suggestion of any underlying fitness issue, but tactically and psychologically, the player appears out of rhythm. As the club approaches a critical stretch of the season, including the final stages of their Champions League campaign and a tight title race, questions are now being asked as to whether Ødegaard can rediscover the form that made him one of the Premier League’s top midfielders.
If he cannot, there may be serious discussions at the Emirates this summer about recruiting a player capable of either complementing or replacing him in the starting XI. While no decision has been made, and the club remains fully supportive of their captain, the next few weeks could prove defining in determining Ødegaard’s long-term role in Mikel Arteta’s evolving project.
