Scholes: Ødegaard is a big problem for arsenal, out of position

Paul Scholes publicly criticized Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, bluntly saying that the midfielder's positioning this season has been seriously flawed and has become a major hidden danger for the team.

Last weekend, Ødegaard led Arsenal to a difficult 1-0 victory over Newcastle, allowing the Gunners to return to the top of the Premier League standings. Arsenal had previously lost to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and once fell to second in the league; then Manchester City defeated Burnley away, once reaching the top, which was their first lead since the first round of the season. The Premier League title race is now completely deadlocked. If Arsenal win the London derby at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday evening and defeat Fulham, their points advantage will be extended to six points.

Under the leadership of Arteta, Ødegaard has been a core player in Arsenal's revival. Since the Spanish coach took office in 2019, he has been voted the club's best player of the season twice. However, long-term injuries have led to a significant decline in his form last season. This season, the Norwegian midfielder is still performing poorly, with only 1 goal and 5 assists in 21 league games.

The victory over Newcastle was the first time Ødegaard had played a full game for Arsenal in two consecutive matches since December last year. This season, Ødegaard's form and physical condition have both been limited, and rumors of his departure in the summer window have intensified. However, before the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid this week, he personally came forward to refute the rumors and deny the transfer rumors.

In the latest episode, Manchester United legend Scholes bluntly stated that Ødegaard's poor form and chaotic positioning are dragging Arsenal down.

"I didn't watch the whole game against Newcastle on Saturday, I only watched the first half hour. In my opinion, Ødegaard is now a big problem for Arsenal," said Scholes.

"I admire Ødegaard, he is technically gifted and talented, but he is not playing in the right position at all. In the first twenty minutes, he retreated further back than the defensive midfielder for most of the time. This way of playing is completely unreasonable."

Scholes believes that Saka's absence on the right wing has further magnified Ødegaard's problems. The two have cooperated well in the past few seasons and complemented each other. Saka's absence directly affected Ødegaard's performance.

Regarding Ødegaard's frequent deep retreats, whether it is a personal choice of the player or a tactical arrangement, Scholes said: "Regardless of whether the coach has relevant requirements, Ødegaard should be the core of the number ten position, responsible for connecting the midfield and attack. His frequent lurking behind Zubimendi and Rice naturally disconnects the team's attack and makes it impossible to form an effective connection.

Ødegaard and Saka's connection is very crucial. Saka sprints forward, and Ødegaard passes the ball in front of him. This is their usual cooperation. But Gyökeres is not suitable for this style of play, and Havertz may be able to form some linkage.

From the perspective of Arsenal's midfielders: we don't need you to retreat to between the defensive midfielder and the defenders. You must be fixed in the number ten area so that we can pass the ball forward and get the ball to your feet, after all, your passing creativity is extremely outstanding.

He should have stayed firmly in the core area, connecting the team's attack, just like David Silva did at Manchester City back then."

When asked who is more suitable to play as Arsenal's number ten, Ødegaard or Eze, Scholes said: "Both of them can do it. Eze is better at scoring in the front of the penalty area, but if Ødegaard is in the right position and plays in the right area, he can make the whole team run more smoothly."

Subsequently, Scholes also commented on Arsenal's high-priced new signing Zubimendi, frankly saying that he was disappointed with the Spanish defensive midfielder's performance, believing that his ability to push forward was seriously insufficient.

"The Premier League has a very high level of confrontation and a long schedule. Zubimendi has never experienced such a test in La Liga before. When he played for Real Sociedad, the outside world said that he was good at holding the ball and pushing forward, but I have never thought so. Midfielders must have the ability to drive the rhythm of the game forward, and Zubimendi is clearly not doing enough."

Scholes also pointed out that the initiative in the Premier League title race this season has been transferred to Manchester City, and the Blue Moon Army has the ability to win all the remaining games of the season.

"Manchester City handled the strong dialogue last week more calmly; while Arsenal still won with difficulty against Newcastle. Manchester City's game rhythm is smooth and stable, and although the team's experience in major competitions is not top-notch, Guardiola's coaching experience is the biggest advantage. The title race is destined to be deadlocked, but with Manchester City's current state, they are fully capable of finishing the season with a full victory."