Martin Ødegaard ~ Arsenal’s Nucleus – Player Scouting Report

Ødegaard’s injury raised question on who’s the real nucleus of Arsenal – Bukayo Saka or Martin Ødegaard? Credit goes out to Saka who took the burden onto himself scoring crucial goals in his absence with lesser output through the RHS

However, the real essence of a team is have quality players that bring their individual talent and combine to make it look like a team game – their chemistry is a prime example. It’s not wrong to agree that Arsenal look fluid with Ødegaard’s inclusion.

Bukayo Saka on Martin Ødegaard: “The day he returned there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. How much I enjoy playing with him. I’m happy he’s back, I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.”

Arsenal look like a much more balanced side with Ødegaard playing – linking up play efficiently + creating spaces for players + holding the tempo of the team + effectiveness of his passes to make a difference against low/mid blocks

~ Influence on the teams dynamics

Ødegaard is known to be the deep connector in Arsenal’s dynamics, often dropping deep to receive from the first phase progressor and driving forwards by carrying or looking for triangular lanes eased out with simple yet effective flicks, feints and passes

The associative play with Ødegaard as the nucleus, alongside Saka + Timber/White makes the RHS so much more productive with its output. Interchanges between the pockets, overloads and chemistries across the pitch makes him the magnet

The intelligence of the fullbacks is very special in Ødegaard’s existence -Ø receives and Timber straight away looks to bursts into spaces ahead, for Ø to find different passing lanes. Once Ødegaard drops deeper, we have one of the fullbacks stay in a positional-less unmarked spaces

Ødegaard encapsulates Saka’s game brilliantly – unlocking and platforming Saka to positions of danger. Simultaneously, Saka makes sure that he attracts the markers and find Ødegaard in pockets of spaces in central zones through which he can play quick 1-2’s

Ødegaard compliments Arsenal’s build up, makes it oh so smooth with how effortlessly he can scan around the pitch – staying 2 steps ahead optimally adjusting his body + reading patterns and executing unimaginable passes which are less predictable

He can influence build up even without having a touch of the ball by attracting markers to open gaps. Ødegaard often drifts wide to pull an extra man from midfield onto himself > with the help of an overlap + through overloads they take advantage and pile in crosses

The Norwegian’s understanding of space and conscious efforts to create room for Saka on the wider channels, regardless of the doubling up speaks of his intelligence. Baiting press by dropping deeper + using an odd player for passing lanes > manoeuver effectively

Being one of the best playmakers comes with your efficiency in tight spaces – Odegaard is a monster in pockets. His incisiveness with the ball + ability to drive from deep + make quick switches on the half turn modulate his understanding of the game and make him a unicorn

His body manipulation comes with some aesthetic bias for fans – it’s that certain touch of elegance he uses in his technical abilities. The use of body feints to mislead players or even creating space through a shoulder drop and freezing opponents

Ødegaard’s impact in Arsenal’s pressing is monumental to the teams functioning off the ball. Can pressurise and nick the ball away and use his body to shield the ball. Defensive contribution as a playmaker is like none, commendable work ethic

~ LHS

Fluidity begins with freedom in positions, rigidity in positioning stops it. Specifying a zone of the pitch for a player makes it uni-dimensional but having a multi-dimensional route to progression brings stability

Moments in the recent matches had Ødegaard floating across to the LHS of the pitch from RHS to bring in extra unpredictability. Which was then taken as an invitation by Merino/Calafiori to shift to the RHS

What does this comply overall to the output of chances creation for Arsenal’s wingers? Brings both Nelli + Saka closer to areas of the pitch they want to be in while also both thriving off Odegaard playing with them in different ways

Constraining him within the RHS and following particular patterns in the half spaces would stiffen down play. Responsibility across all zones on a more regular basis redefines his role completely and elevates the team additionally.

~ Odegaard as a Leader

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The captain’s duty has set a standard at Arsenal under the guidance of Martin Ødegaard. Apart from G/A’s that he brings to influence the game, he an orchestrator of the press and a top player inspiring the squad from the front

Highlights of the game would often show you how he’s the engine running around full 90’s pressing, the real base of Arsenal’s off the ball tenacity. Might not be the most physical profile, but he makes sure he does his best in order to fight for every ball and set the tone

‘A leader isn’t the one who scores but assists in every other aspect’ – when others drop off, Ødegaard makes sure that his intensity on the pitch is matching the energy that the crowd brings which indirectly motivates teammates to give their best

A lot of his game is also built around his teammates – what are their repetitive moves, favourite areas of the pitch, influential zones to attack, etc. Yells and choreographs the team according the the opponents playstyle > understanding all phases of play

~ Conclusion:

Footballers/pundits mentioning Ødegaard as one of the most underrated baller in interviews/podcasts tells you how they rate him. In order for Arsenal to have a successful season, having Ødegaard fit is a key COG

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