Arsenal and Atletico Madrid battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash, in a game decided by three penalty decisions by the referee at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Viktor Gyokeres tucked away a penalty in the first half after he was fouled in the box, before Atletico Madrid equalised through Julian Alvarez's spot kick, following a controversial handball decision given against Ben White. Arsenal thought they had won another penalty late on when David Hancko fouled Ebere Eze, but the referee overturned the decision after watching the replays on the screen, despite clear contact.
But while the Gunners will be disappointed with the outcome of the result, there were some individual performances on the night that were way below par, and it will surely leave Mikel Arteta with some brutal decisions to make going forward on one star in particular.
Martin Odegaard Isn't Good Enough
Martin Odegaard and Mikel Arteta
Captain Martin Odegaard was handed a start in the attacking midfield position once again in a huge game, and once again he had next to no influence on the result.
The Norwegian had a small part to play in the build up to the Arsenal penalty being given, exchanging passes with Martin Zubimendi, but aside from that he struggled to make any kind of impact on the game. That was proven when he got substituted before the hour mark by Arteta, with Eze coming on in his place.
According to Sofascore, Odegaard had one shot in the game that was blocked, didn't attempt any dribbles, competed in just two duels (1/2 successful), and lost possession three times. Those poor stats earned him a disappointing 5/10 rating for the game.
But more than that, it showed that he is no longer capable of being effective at the highest level, and now Arsenal have a huge decision to make over his future in the upcoming summer window.
Arsenal Should Sell Odegaard ASAP
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts
Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Britain - December 20, 2025 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Odegaard is not a youngster anymore. At 27 he is in the prime years of his career, but he seems to be regressing, and Arsenal look to be better without him at this stage.
His current contract at the Emirates Stadium runs until 2028, but with Eze and Ethan Nwaneri waiting in the wings, the club are not short on talent in his position. It's clear that he can't hack it at the level he once could, and Arsenal are almost being punished for handing him the captain's armband at this point because it feels like he has to play.
Cashing in this summer would be smart and sensible, as it would allow the next generation to start coming through, and also mean that Declan Rice can finally claim the armband.
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