While it doesn't feel like it, Arsenal once again extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table at the weekend.
Thanks to Manchester United taking all three points from Manchester City and Aston Villa falling to defeat at home to Everton, Mikel Arteta's side are now seven points clear of both.
Now, that lead could, and really probably should be nine points, but the Gunners failed to take full advantage of the situation away to Nottingham Forest and put in a rather disappointing performance.
arteta
In particular, it was another underwhelming display from Martin Odegaard, but it was also another sign that this is undoubtedly the final season for one of his teammates.
Why Odegaard is underfire after Forest
Was Odegaard the worst Arsenal player against Forest? No, probably not.
However, he has received more heat than most of his teammates for a couple of reasons.
The first is that he's the captain and therefore, he is in part responsible for how the team performs, and more than that, he's wearing the armband as the most attacking midfielder.
Odegaard
In other words, much of the side's offensive play should be dictated by him, and therefore when the team fail to score, or look blunt, he's going to cop more of the fans' ire.
The second reason is that it's another poor performance from a player who, just 18 months ago, was seen as one of the best in the team but has since been consistently unimpressive.
Odegaard's recent form
Season
Appearances
Minutes
Goals
Assists
Goal Involvements per Match
Minutes per Goal Involvement
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, in 22 appearances this term, the 27-year-old has scored just a single goal and provided four assists, which simply is not good enough.
This lack of involvement was on full display at the City Ground as well.
In his 56 minutes of action, he only completed 18 passes, failed to take a shot on target, didn't complete a dribble and was practically anonymous.
Odegaard vs Nottingham Forest stats
Now, there is, of course, time for him to remedy his form this term, and it's unlikely he'll be gone in the summer, but if Odegaard continues to perform in this manner for the next 18 months, it's not hard to imagine a world in which he's moved on.
Unfortunately, it's even easier to imagine a world in which one of his Arsenal teammates is moved on even sooner, such as this summer.
The Arsenal star who is finished
The Arsenal player who probably received the most criticism after the Forest game was Viktor Gyokeres, but what seems to have been overlooked by quite a few is that Gabriel Jesus was hardly any better when he came on.
Gabriel-Jesus-Arsenal
For example, in his 33 minutes of action, the Brazilian striker missed a big chance, lost the ball five times despite taking just 13 touches, failed in 100% of his dribbles, completed six of eight passes, didn't play a key pass and lost his only duel.
It was a cameo that only confirmed what some fans have suspected over the last few weeks, that the former City man may well be done in an Arsenal shirt.
Jesus vs Forest
Minutes
Big Chances Missed
Shots
Touches
Lost Possession
Passes
Key Passes
Duels (Won)
All Stats via Sofascore
Now, before the torches and pitchforks come out, that is not to say he should be sold this month, that would be absurd given the state of play, but it is hard to see the 28-year-old staying beyond the summer.
Sure, there have been flashes of brilliance from him since his return from injury, but they have been just that, flashes.
In his 11 appearances this term, of which nine have been off the bench, he has scored just one goal and provided only one assist.
Jesus-Arteta-Arsenal
Moreover, most of the time he has come off the bench, he has failed to really impact the game, beyond looking a bit livelier than Gyokeres.
The unfortunate thing is that it's not really his fault either, as it seems his injuries have taken away the explosiveness and agility he once had, which, in the manager's words, made him such an "unpredictable" player.
Ultimately, given how much he struggles to have an impact, his huge £265k-per-week wages, and his injury-proneness, Arsenal simply have to sell Jesus this summer.
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