For many years, being captain of Arsenal football club was something of a disaster. Most football fans remember the famous incident in which Granit Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took the armband from Xhaka but then left it behind himself in inharmonious circumstances, just two years later after a heated argument with the manager. Previously, it was Laurent Koscielny who bitterly left the club himself. In front of him were Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen, who had good leadership qualities but were rarely in the starting line-up.
The club’s current manager, Mikel Arteta, himself was captain as a player for two years between 2014 and 2016, but he wasn’t a guaranteed starter every week either. Cesc Fàbregas and Robin van Persie were revered as captains of the club, but both left the club in their prime and ended up playing for rival teams, and there was always speculation that they would leave north London. Then there was William Gallas and the famous tears against Birmingham in 2009 that resulted in him being stripped of the armband. That said it all.
How Martin Ødegaard’s performances have led Arsenal this season
Ødegaard is Arsenal’s creative spark, on and off the ball. His quick feet are sometimes mesmerizing and he possesses a vision that few midfielders in world football can emulate. The Norwegian always seems to have more time on the ball in tight areas than others. This is partly due to its excellent ability to scan the environment. In 2013, a study of 55 midfielders found that those with a higher scan rate also had a higher completion rate on forward passes. A company called “Be your best” developed virtual reality software to train this scanning skill, and Ødegaard was one of the guinea pigs.
Ødegaard put on a headset and began using the software, which tracks how often a player checks their surroundings, when they check their surroundings, and what decisions result from them. But Odegaard soon recognized a problem. Instead of setting the speed to 100%, he asked if he could do it at 120%. It highlights the Arsenal captain’s exceptional scanning ability. Accordingly Wyscout, In the Premier League this season, only Mohamed Salah (35) has made more key passes than Ødegaard (34). No Arsenal player has managed through balls (66) and no player in the entire division has made more ‘smart passes’ (a penetration pass that attempts to break through defensive lines to gain a significant advantage) than the Norwegian with 52. Due his world class Thanks to his good scanning ability, he has more time than most to look ahead and be productive on the ball.
As can be seen above, only Bruno Fernandes (99) has created more chances than Ødegaard this season. Ødegaard provided two assists in the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday evening. He also scored four precise through balls – the most in a Premier League game since Kevin De Bruyne against Bournemouth in 2016. The Norwegian playmaker now has 16 direct goal involvements in the Premier League alone. Add to that the fact that he scored 22 goals and assists last season and he has been putting up great numbers in central midfield for the Gunners for some time now.
Complete player comparison
Ødegaard also sets the tone for Arsenal off the ball. He is the first to press and trap his teammates to join him. Since the start of last season, he has won the ball back in the final third more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. Many were surprised when Ødegaard was given the captaincy in 2022 aged just 23, but now the decision can no longer be questioned. The Norwegian is always the last player on the pitch, applauding the fans and completing the full 360° tour of the Emirates Stadium. Through his achievements, his ability to bring out the best in those around him and his connection with the fans, Ødegaard is Arsenal’s leader. You’ll need him this Sunday.