Paul Scholes Launches Scathing Attack on Arsenal Captain Martin Odegaard
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has delivered a blistering critique of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, accusing the Norwegian playmaker of "killing" his own teammate and holding back the Gunners' attacking potential.
Scholes Questions Odegaard's Influence and Position
Speaking on The Overlap, Scholes suggested that Odegaard's tendency to drop deep into midfield areas is detrimental to Arsenal's attacking play. The former England international, who himself excelled in the number ten role, argued that Odegaard should be operating higher up the pitch to create goal-scoring opportunities.
"Odegaard wants to play as a No.10 and if you're not playing good football it's his job to make your team play good football," Scholes stated. "I don't think he does it. He drops into midfield. I played No.10 - if they come into the midfield area and play where Roy should be he'd say 'get up there'. He doesn't do it enough in those areas where it wins games."
Concerns Over Odegaard's Form and Chemistry
The criticism comes during what has been a challenging season for Odegaard, who has managed just one goal across all competitions. The 27-year-old, celebrating five years at Arsenal since his move from Real Madrid, has seen his influence wane despite being a central figure in Mikel Arteta's successful teams.
Scholes highlighted the lack of chemistry between Odegaard and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, suggesting the Swedish striker has been starved of service compared to his prolific spell at Sporting Lisbon.
"It also kills the centre forward - he's got nobody to play with," Scholes added, comparing Arsenal's attack unfavourably to title-winning teams like Liverpool and Manchester City. "They're exciting because of people like David Silva, Phil Foden receiving the ball on the edge of the box where it's important."
Gyokeres Finds Form Despite Criticism
Interestingly, Gyokeres returned to the scoresheet in Arsenal's recent Champions League victory, marking their eighth consecutive win in the competition. The match provided the first opportunity to pair Gyokeres with Kai Havertz, who made his first start since last season's finale.
"It's a great feeling to score goals, and to help the team," said Gyokeres after the match. "It was great to have Kai back, and he performed great this game, even though he only played 45 minutes, so yeah, it went really well, I think."
Broader Context and Competition
Scholes' comments come at a time when Odegaard faces increased competition for his place, with summer signing Eberechi Eze reportedly eager to prove his worth. The Norwegian's struggles have raised questions about whether injuries have taken their toll or if his role in Arteta's system needs reconsideration.
The debate around Odegaard's performance reflects broader concerns about Arsenal's attacking output from open play, with Scholes suggesting the captain bears significant responsibility for improving the team's creative play in the final third.
