Martin Odegaard faces fresh doubt at Arsenal after strong comments from former players. The captain who once led from the front is now fighting for his place. Big wins and bold decisions have changed the mood around him.
Aside from Christian Norgaard in the pitch…there is no single creativity from our Midfielders in the absence of Odegaard. still fans want him sold ! pic.twitter.com/QKfCeRmQE0
— 🇸🇯 MØ8 (@HandofOdegaard8) February 19, 2026
Martin Odegaard joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2021. He quickly became one of the most important players in the team. He scored goals, created chances, and helped Arsenal compete for the Premier League title. Fans loved his calm style and smart passing. He was named captain because of his leadership and hard work.
Over the last 18 months things have changed. Martin Odegaard has had injuries and has not started many matches this season. He scored only three league goals last year which is low for an attacking midfielder. Arsenal also signed Eberechi Eze who brings more speed and direct runs. Arsenal are five points clear at the top English football but Manchester City still have a game in hand so the title race is tight.
This season Odegaard has played 32 matches and 1865 minutes. He has scored two goals and made 13 assists. In World Cup qualifiers he gave seven assists and scored once. His passing has remained strong with 85.6% accuracy and overall rating stands at 7.05. These numbers show he still creates chances and helps his team in important moments.
The talk about Martin Odegaard grew louder after Arsenal beat Tottenham 4 to 1 in the north London derby. It was a huge match with title pressure and local pride on the line. Eberechi Eze started the game and scored two goals. He looked sharp and confident. He also scored three goals against Tottenham earlier in the season. His form has been strong at the right time.
Martin Odegaard did not start that match. He came on late when the result was almost safe. Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol said that if he were Odegaard he would think about leaving. Nicol said that 18 months ago Odegaard was the key player. Now he is not always first choice. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf agreed. He said Odegaard is elegant but not as influential as before. He feels Eze brings more forward runs and helps striker Viktor Gyokeres more.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Eze after the win. He said Eze wanted to prove himself and showed strong belief. Those words added more focus on the change inside the team. Tactically Arsenal now attack faster. They move the ball forward quickly and press high. Odegaard prefers to slow the game and control play. Arteta may be choosing a different style for big matches.
🚨 BREAKING : Martin Ødegaard has opened the door to a summer exit after asking his agent to begin talks with Manchester United.
The midfielder feels undervalued at Arsenal and is now ready to leave, with tensions reported between him and Mikel Arteta.
Bayern Munich are keen,… pic.twitter.com/J8ieMzQ4BI
— MatchDay Central (@MatchDCentral) February 15, 2026
Fans reaction and impact
Many fans do not agree with the criticism they say Martin Odegaard has given everything to the club. Some believe pundits create drama for attention. Supporters point out that he is still captain and works hard every week. They say injuries have affected his rhythm and that rotation is normal in a long season.
Others admit competition is stronger now they see Eze in great form and accept that Arteta must pick players who perform best. The debate shows how high expectations are at Arsenal. The club is chasing its first league title since 2004. Every decision feels bigger when a trophy is close.
Author’s Opinion
Martin Odegaard now faces an important period in his Arsenal career. He can fight to win back his starting place and prove his value again. The season is not over and many big games remain. What happens next could shape both his future and Arsenal’s title dream.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
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