Arteta was impressed by one of his menplaceholder image
Arteta was impressed by one of his men | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta is about to have a problem, but for once, the Arsenal boss will welcome the selection headache.
It is the one thing that Arsenal has lacked in the last three seasons when Mikel Arteta couldn’t quite get his side over the line in the Premier League title race.
Does Eberechi Eze keep Martin Odegaard out Arsenal’s team?
Nevin’s point is a valid one, and there is a strong argument for the Gunners captain not getting his place back in the team once he returns to full fitness, giving Arteta a pleasant headache for once. In his absence, Eberechi Eze has taken on the mantle of playmaker in chief from a deeper role and his hat-trick against Tottenham was the clearest indication that this is where he plays his best football. It was a performance that left Ian Wright singing Eze’s praises.
Odegaard has struggled to stay fit this season, although he has been unlucky with the nature of the injuries that he has suffered. Despite no clear timeline from Arteta, the Norway international is expected back soon and a decision will have to be made. From the outside, it looks like an easy choice. Eze is flying, why change the shape and personnel of the team to accommodate one player?
Using Data MB’s comparison model, to assess which player gets the nod statistically, there is no comparison. Surprisingly though, the numbers suggest that Odegaard should get his place back when he returns to match fitness and that Eze should be moved out to the left-hand side to make room.
The skipper hasn’t played enough minutes this year to make a completely fair comparison, however, in possession, he offers more control and gets Arsenal on the front foot through his passing range. Both are attacking midfielders, but play the role in a different manner.
Radar image of Eberechi Eze (blue) and Martin Odegaard (pink) for 2025/26 and 2024/25 seasons.placeholder image
Radar image of Eberechi Eze (blue) and Martin Odegaard (pink) for 2025/26 and 2024/25 seasons. | Data MB.
There is a possibility that they play together in games where Arsenal dominate the ball but, for now, Odegaard will be the one who gets the nod with Arteta already explaining why.
Why Arteta won’t drop Odegaard
Speaking ahead of the curtain raiser against Man United, Arteta via the club’s official website, revealed why Odegaard had been made captain and what he brings to an Arsenal side now cruising at the top of the Premier League: "Martin has got hundreds of qualities and everybody who has come across him will notice them very quickly," he said in his pre-match press conference.
"The biggest one is that to be named captain, to be respected and especially admired by somebody, he doesn't need to shout. That's a massive quality. A lot of people talk and shout, and then when you close the door, they do something very different. Martin doesn't need to open his mouth and everybody says 'he's my captain, I want him to represent, I trust him 100 per cent, he's the guy I want to have next to me.'"
Talking about the voting process by players and staff, he said: "By a mile, by a big, big 100 marks, everybody chose the same person, which is Martin Odegaard, which is the most clear sign that you can have, how they feel about who has to be their captain to defend, improve and win the matches that we want to win. So, I mean, there's no question about that."
The manager isn’t about to drop the one player who everyone looks up to, regardless of how good Eze has been recently.
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