Arsenal has been capturing the headlines for a month now. The team had a phenomenal season. Every player has done its part extremely well. Mikel Arteta has been participating in interviews more frequently after his team’s bombastic win. But now Arsenal has come to a point where it faces a huge identity crisis on the ground. Arteta does have a very unique and effective team, but the team lacks creative structure. Recently Arsenal faced Manchester United, and it was a terrible match for The Gunners. The score was 3-2. Manchester United dominated the pitch from the first minute itself. People point fingers on the captain of Arsenal, Martin Ødegaard.
Context Behind The Defeat Of Arsenal Against Man Utd
Pundits have started to raise questions on the captain now. Martin Ødegaard is the current lead of Arsenal. Ødegaard has been an active member of the team since 2021. The Norwegian professional midfielder is a captain for both Arsenal Premier League club and the Norway national team. People have gone furious because this defeat against Man United was something very unexpected. After a series of wins, the audience could not accept the fact that Arsenal lost the game against Man United. This defeat can bring the team into a critical edge. Martin Ødegaard has been handling the squad for a long time now. He has done great work during his tenure.
“Overall, not good enough… ” – Martin Ødegaard breaks silence on painful Manchester United loss as Arsenal title nerves show ⬇️🚨https://t.co/VUCXjR72ke
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) January 26, 2026
Arsenal Has Two Big Failures Currently
The Norwegian star did not perform well this time, but something more shocking has come forward. Another £45m player has played even worse than the current captain. Although this person entered the team with a big label. But now the label looks unjustifiable. However, Arsenal is still standing on its position, but this defeat has shaken the entire team’s core. The £45m player has come up as a big disappointment. His entry into the team was welcomed by all. People thought this player would change the dynamics of Arsenal. Arteta was massively appreciated for bringing him onboard.
Fans Question Martin Ødegaard
Fans are furious over this player’s performance. According to pundits, the player is no less than an expensive disaster. They believe both the £45m newcomer and the captain, Martin Ødegaard could not maintain the club’s reputation. Netizens slam the captain for being overconfident on the pitch. They feel Martin should be held accountable for this defeat. Few supporters also suggest Arteta to be extremely decisive now. According to them, Arteta should bring huge changes into his team’s arrangement. Social media platforms buzz with posts calling the £45m player a big flop.
"I think Saka was too quiet."
Patrick Vieira says Arsenal need to go back to basics after their defeat to Manchester United 🔊 pic.twitter.com/BCKPUncs4Q
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
The £45 Million Disaster Creates Disappointment
The £45m man looked very demotivated and lethargic on the ground. It felt as if the player did not even try to put in efforts. People have observed his inattentiveness. Martin Ødegaard is under huge pressure after this recent match. The midfield spot of Arsenal has been facing massive downfall. Arteta looked extremely disappointed during his after-match media interaction. The Spanish manager was seen speaking about the weak points. He clarified that he doesn’t blame Ødegaard for the loss. Arteta also added that he won’t let this match be the deciding factor. There are multiple opportunities left for the team to buck up.
Mikel Arteta’s Word On Martin Ødegaard
However, Mikel Arteta has dismissed all sorts of transfer rumors at the moment. He said that he will conduct the necessary decisions regarding the team’s arrangement very soon.
Author’s Insight
This is the second time that Arsenal has repeated its mistake of recruiting an expensive disaster. It seems as if Arteta is still very fond of hiring players with big labels and zero sustainability. It is high time now; Arsenal should let weak players go. By the end of the January sales, the team should have some extraordinary talents onboard.
As featured on GoonerNews.com