Arsenal fans lose patience with Martin Odegaard after performance in PSG defeat

Arsenal slipped to a slender defeat to Paris Saint-Germain during the first-leg of their semi-final clash at the Emirates and one player in particular left Gunners fans disappointed

Arsenal fans have claimed that Martin Odegaard has to be AXED after a ‘non-existent’ performance vs Paris Saint-Germain. The Norwegian midfielder was unsurprisingly named in the Gunners starting XI in their Champions League semi-final clash with the French side.

But he endured a very tricky evening. The former Real Madrid playmaker created just one chance during his time on the pitch, while he completed just 27 passes.

With Arsenal chasing a goal, boss Mikel Arteta surprisingly decided to take Odegaard off in stoppage time in favour of youngster Ethan Nwaneri. And some fans have claimed that it might be time for the midfielder to drop out of the side entirely.

Taking to Twitter, one supporter said: “It’s getting to the point with Martin Odegaard where it would probably help if he discussed what’s actually going on here. He’s not looked right all season since that injury. On an individual level, that was nowhere near the level needed."

Another fan added: “I love Odegaard. I really do, and for a long long time he was my favourite player. But questions need to be asked about what’s wrong with him. I know he’s had a serious injury but he is a shadow of the player he was.”

A further Arsenal supporter wrote: “Mikel Merino was winning everything in the air and we wasted him in midfield. Odegaard may as well sat in the stands he was that non-existent. Arteta’s in game management today was bad.”

The criticism continued to come following the full-time whistle. One fan wrote: “I cannot defend Odegaard. This is our captain not a teenager from the academy,” with another adding: “Arteta needs to start exploring playing Nwaneri over Odegaard, I’ve had enough.”

Arsenal will certainly be hoping for more from Odegaard next week as they aim to stage a Champions League turnaround. PSG hold a one-goal advantage over the Gunners following Ousmane Dembele’s winner in North London.

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Before that, Arsenal still have a Premier League game to navigate as they welcome Bournemouth to the Emirates at the weekend. Odegaard has had a quiet season in Premier League terms with just two goals and six assists.

His form has been better in the Champions League having scored on three occasions - the most recent of those strikes coming in Arsenal’s 7-1 demolition of Dutch side PSV back in March.