Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott believes club captain Martin Odegaard received a vital 'kick up the backside' after watching Eberechi Eze's stunning hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur. The Norwegian playmaker, absent through injury, saw his summer signing replacement excel in a dominant derby display that extends Arsenal's lead at the Premier League summit.
Derby Day Brilliance from Eze
With Martin Odegaard sidelined since October, manager Mikel Arteta turned to Eberechi Eze as his chief creative force. The decision proved inspired as Eze delivered a match-winning performance, netting a brilliant hat-trick in a resounding victory over their fierce rivals. The Emirates Stadium atmosphere was electric, but Walcott suggests one key figure watching from the stands may have felt a pang of anxiety.
Odegaard, who is nearing full fitness, was in attendance to witness the demolition. Walcott, speaking on It's Called Soccer on The Overlap US, noted: "What was really nice to see is when you have a bench celebrating that much as well. They're all on the same page, they are, however, deep down, Martin Odegaard will be thinking: 'Oh, this is tough!'"
A New Level of Competition at Arsenal
This new-found depth marks a significant evolution for Arteta's squad. The summer arrivals of Eze, Noni Madueke, and Viktor Gyokeres have bolstered an attack already featuring Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli. For Odegaard, whose goal output dipped last season with just three Premier League strikes, the competition is now fiercer than ever.
Walcott argues this pressure is precisely what the skipper needs. "Sometimes you become a better player when you're injured sometimes, when you're losing games. But at this moment in time, he's becoming a worse player," Walcott stated, before adding, "You can't forget how good Odegaard is, and that's the mad truth, but we'll see a side of Odegaard we've not seen. I think he's needed this kick up the backside, I'll be brutally honest."
A Positive Problem for Arteta
Walcott drew parallels with Leandro Trossard's resurgence, suggesting the same could happen for Odegaard. "It will be brilliant for him because it's happened to Trossard and all of a sudden Trossard is someone different now so I think it'll do him good," he explained. This internal competition, fuelled by strategic recruitment, has elevated the entire squad.
"Everyone is getting pushed right now at Arsenal now and we're in a good place, a better place, an incredible place," Walcott concluded. As Odegaard prepares to return, he faces the daunting task of reclaiming his spot from an in-form Eze, a challenge that could ultimately bring out the best in the Arsenal captain and strengthen the team's title ambitions.
