On Tuesday night, Martin Odegaard put in a man-of-the-match performance against Chelsea, proving once again why he has been such an important player for Arsenal this season.
Despite criticism from Gary Neville after the Manchester City defeat, where Odegaard was questioned for his leadership abilities, the Norwegian midfielder has consistently shown his worth both on and off the pitch.
With two goals and a tireless display, Odegaard demonstrated the qualities that have made him a key player for Mikel Arteta’s side.
This season, he has scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in the Premier League, impressive numbers for a 24-year-old who faced initial doubts.
Neville’s comments regarding Odegaard’s leadership abilities were deemed unfair by Arteta. The Arsenal manager defended his captain, highlighting that Odegaard has been an exceptional player for the team this season, both in terms of his performances and his leadership off the pitch.
Arteta praised Odegaard’s contribution to the team, stating that he sets the tone for the team and has been the driving force behind their unexpected title challenge.
“I don’t read those comments,” Arteta said of the criticism of his captain.
“What I can say is that he’s been exceptional for us. You look at his contribution, every single day in the team, and then what he does out there for us every single time, it’s exceptional.
While no player is perfect, Arteta believes that Odegaard deserves a lot of credit for his performances this season, and his contribution should not be called into question.
“The perfect player that plays perfect football every time doesn’t exist. But what Martin has done this season deserves a lot of credit,”Arteta responded to Neville’s criticism.
Arsenal are back in action today (Sunday) as they travel to St. James Park to take on third-placed Newcastle United.