Arsenal: How Odegaard boosts Arteta’s chances vs Man City

Albert Sambi Lokonga & Odegaard Can Aid Arsenal’s Fluidity

We can expect to see more from Odegaard in Saturday’s early kick-off than we did during our last encounter with City, thanks largely to the efforts of fellow summer arrival Albert Sambi Lokonga.

While Thomas Partey’s absence through injury robbed us of midfield penetration on that February afternoon, this time Lokonga will be available to take up the mantle and continue his encouraging start to life in the Gunners’ engine room.

The Belgian’s calmness in possession and ability to evade pressure, alongside Odegaard’s capacity to expedite ball progression through the lines, should significantly improve our fluidity in the transition, and this may in turn lead to others such as Saka and Smith Rowe getting the ball sooner and having an extra moment to make the difference in the final third.

And while the calibre of opposition and Arteta’s typically cautious approach in big Premier League games might curb the team’s overall attacking firepower, our new No. 8 can still make an impression by pressing from the front and tracking back to offer further defensive support, with his incredible work rate exemplified by his 19.2 pressures per 90 last season – more than any other Arsenal player.

Playing the champions away from home is a much tougher test than the one we experienced in midweek and, although we don’t want to be too defeatist, even the most optimistic of supporters would concede that taking any points this weekend seems improbable.

While that may be the case, having Odegaard back in the fold is a big boost for our under-pressure manager, and his return to the pitch should give us something extra in every department just when we need it most. Let’s hope it is reflected in the final score.