Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard's guaranteed starting role is under serious threat following a dazzling performance from teammate Eberechi Eze, which has prompted top pundits to question the Norwegian's immediate future in Mikel Arteta's first eleven.
Eze's North London Derby Masterclass
The conversation was ignited by Arsenal's emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, a result that sent the Gunners six points clear at the Premier League summit. With just one defeat all season, the team's confidence is sky-high as they prepare for a crucial Champions League encounter against an unbeaten Bayern Munich.
The standout performer was Eberechi Eze, who seized his opportunity in the absence of the injured Odegaard. The England international delivered a hat-trick, a man-of-the-match display that has fundamentally altered the dynamic in Arsenal's attacking midfield.
Pundits Weigh In on Odegaard's Predicament
The 26-year-old Odegaard has endured an injury-hit season, making just six Premier League appearances and completing the full ninety minutes only once. His importance to Arteta's system is undisputed, but Eze's flawless execution in the number ten role has created a welcome headache for the manager.
Rio Ferdinand led the chorus of pundits reassessing the pecking order. "Odegaard has been someone; if he’s fit, he’s going to play," Ferdinand stated on his podcast. "Right now, Eze has just said to Mikel Arteta, 'You need to rethink that... I’ve got the shirt. Odegaard’s got to come and get it back off me even though he’s the captain.'"
His views were supported by fellow analysts Wayne Rooney, Jamie Carragher, and Gary Neville. The Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United legend Neville even suggested that Eze might be a more natural fit for the role. "I think he’s better in the 10... I think he’s got the ability to beat a man with the ball at his feet. He’s got the ability to go and do something that’s more unpredictable, maybe than Odegaard," Neville remarked.
Kepa Transfer Baffles Arsenal Legend
Elsewhere at the Emirates, a summer signing continues to raise eyebrows. The arrival of former Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in a £5 million deal has been questioned by Arsenal great Lee Dixon.
With David Raya firmly established as the undisputed number one, Kepa, who once held the record as the world's most expensive goalkeeper after his £72 million move to Chelsea in 2018, has been limited to just two appearances, both in the Carabao Cup.
Dixon expressed his disbelief at the 31-year-old's decision to join as a backup. "Yeah, I couldn’t believe he came," Dixon told Metro. "I don’t know why you would, at his stage of his career, make that decision. He’s never going to play. He’s only going to play if David Raya gets injured. So why would you want to do that? From a football point of view, it didn’t make any sense to me whatsoever."
As Arsenal enjoys a period of on-field success, the competition for places and the strategic logic behind squad additions are creating compelling narratives behind the scenes.
