Arsenal: 3 key player partnerships in Arteta’s lineup

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang & Martin Odegaard

Can you call this a partnership considering they both play in different positions with entirely opposing job roles? Not really, so it’s kind of cheating.

What it is though, is a link up that can have a transformative impact on the club captain and propel Arsenal back up the Premier League table.

It may not be the direct combination play between the two either. Odegaard doesn’t need to directly feed Aubameyang through on goal and grab an assist for this to be deemed a success. Where the beauty can lie is in the positions; what areas of the pitch the Norwegian picks up that have knock-on effects for the rest of the forwards.

His penchant for the right-half space as well as central areas are pockets of space previously unoccupied, or assumed by the wrong players, that prevent Aubameyang being as crowded out as teams are easily able to get into shape.

Since the start of last season, Aubameyang has scored ten goals in 14 matches he’s started with Odegaard. Without Odegaard, he’s netted just goals in 21 outings.

Someone who thrives on quality service in behind, Arsenal have not had enough players who can thread those passes. Be them directly to Aubameyang or to a teammate en route to the captain, Odegaard offers that.

How these two combine will be key to turning the season around. The very small sample size that we’ll label as history suggests it’s a partnership that can prosper.