The win over Bayer Leverkusen should have given Mikel Arteta more answers than questions about his Arsenal team selection all season.
It was at a high level as the second leg could come without emphasis. The Gunners swept aside the Bundesliga side and quickly turned their attention to Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
With just days to go before the final, Arteta should have an easy choice when choosing his starting Wembley team, but there have been many battles going on in that Arsenal squad over the past few weeks. And Eberechi Eze may have just won his.
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In a week where Manchester City and Chelsea were humiliated by Europe’s juggernauts, you have to wonder how Arsenal can improve and avoid the same result later on.
The Gunners were also not perfect in the two legs against Leverkusen. They needed a late penalty to salvage a first-leg draw and their struggle to play in open play once again hit the headlines. The upset was still a concern on the Emirates cards.
But when there is a big game, there seems to be a big moment from Eze. As Arsenal struggle in open play, the former Crystal Palace man continues to produce special moments of quality.
There are many ways to break down a low block – although some in the Premier League seem to have other ideas – but hitting a half-volley into the top corner has to be the most satisfying.
Eze is not the only solution Arsenal have, however. They now have a record-breaker to turn to in Max Dowman, who has already created two chances and completed two dribbles in 16 minutes against Everton last weekend.
Both are in top form and that is a big problem for one of the highest paid players at the Emirates Stadium.
Eze and Dowman are bad news for the main Arsenal
There was a time when Martin Odegaard was arguably the biggest creator in North London. Arsenal’s attack went through him and Bukayo Saka. Now, it tends to go through Declan Rice, the threat of Gabriel and the growing importance of Eze. So where does that leave Odegaard?
The Norwegian has the captain’s armband, but is he really a leader over someone with Rice’s presence?
He should be the creator, but he has assisted six Premier League goals in a season that has been hampered by persistent injury problems. And, given his injury history and creative qualities, the Gunners are unlikely to look to Odegaard physically.
|
Arsenal 25/26 |
By Odegaard |
Except for Odegaard |
|---|---|---|
|
Games |
26 |
22 |
|
It wins |
19 |
18 |
|
Drawings |
4 |
4 |
|
Defeat |
3 |
0 |
|
Goals Scored |
57 |
47 |
|
Goals Scored |
21 |
10 |
The numbers don’t lie. While Odegaard has played this season, Arsenal’s defensive numbers have been worse than when he is not in the side.
Ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, Arteta must ask himself whether it is worth adding more goals to his side despite the obvious result of a defensive relegation.
If the answer is no, he should choose Eze over Odegaard. The chosen champions have never lost without their captain and that should be considered as another bad statistic.
Furthermore, when you take a closer look at Odegaard’s defensive numbers, it is clear that if he is not creating, Arsenal have a rider.
On average in the Premier League this season, fifth-highest scoring Arsenal have won just 1.42 tackles, made 0.58 tackles and won only 44.9% of their matches. The negative impact outweighs the positive impact on his performance.
Ignoring a captain is not an easy call, but Arteta has clear evidence that Arsenal are no longer a better side with Odegaard on the pitch and he must make a decision about his role for the remainder of the campaign. For now, though, it should be Eze or Dowman to start ahead of him.
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Gabriel and William Saliba have provided the foundations for Arsenal’s success, but one player now appears to be a hybrid between the two defenders.
