Arsenal Legend Alan Smith Urges Arteta to Drop Odegaard for Eze Amid Title Race Concerns
Arsenal legend Alan Smith has made a bold call for manager Mikel Arteta to drop captain Martin Odegaard and give summer signing Eberechi Eze an extended run in the team. This comes as the Gunners face mounting pressure in the Premier League title race after a disappointing run of results.
Odegaard's Struggling Form Sparks Alarm Bells
Martin Odegaard, the 27-year-old Norwegian playmaker, was substituted before the hour mark in Arsenal's recent 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United. While he did provide an assist for the opening goal, his overall performance was largely ineffective, contributing to growing concerns among fans and pundits alike.
Odegaard's sub-par form has become a significant talking point, with the midfielder contributing to only three goals in the last three months. All of these came in a brief burst around the turn of the year, highlighting a worrying dip in productivity at a crucial stage of the season.
Arsenal's Title Hopes Under Threat
The Gunners have now failed to win any of their last three Premier League matches, managing just one victory in 2026 so far. This poor run has seen them squander the opportunity to restore a seven-point lead at the top of the table, sparking fears that their title challenge could be unraveling.
Alan Smith, the former Arsenal striker, believes it is time for Arteta to make some tactical adjustments. "I think Arteta might just need to tweak his system a little bit and change some personnel perhaps," Smith told Sky Sports. "Perhaps it's time now to give Eze an extended run in the team instead of Odegaard, who has struggled a little bit."
Eze Awaits His Chance
Eberechi Eze, who came on as a substitute in the defeat to Manchester United, has not started a Premier League game since mid-December. His next opportunity could come in Saturday's clash with Leeds United, following Arsenal's Champions League fixture against Kazakhstani side Kairat on Wednesday.
Smith emphasised the importance of bouncing back quickly. "They've got to bounce back, there's no doubt about that," he said. "Leeds and then Sunderland at home. Leeds played really well last night, in the first half particularly. That's going to be a tough one in front of those Elland Road fans."
Smith Backs Arsenal for the Title Despite Setbacks
Despite the recent struggles, Alan Smith remains confident that Arsenal will ultimately win the Premier League title. "Yeah, I think so. I've got to go with the Gunners," he stated. "It would be a major fall from grace if they didn't win at this point. They've got the best squad in the league, there's no doubt about that. So yeah, I think they will get themselves together."
Smith stressed that winning at challenging venues like Elland Road is essential for any title-winning team, especially after such an "far from ideal" run of results. The pressure is now on Arteta to freshen things up and steer Arsenal back to winning ways as the season reaches its climax.
