Arsenal: 5 players who need to step up

5. Martin Odegaard

Is this being harsh? Yes, in all honesty.

Excluding the Manchester City debacle, Martin Odegaard has started the last four Premier League matches and only struggled in one of them.

Near enough everyone had an off day at Brighton, with Odegaard no different. His usual influence waned as the Brighton press succeeded in damaging Arsenal’s centrality, condemning Partey and the Norwegian’s usual link-up to a place back on the bus. There was a spot right next to the Norwegian’s touch.

The other three league matches Odegaard has started in he’s been excellent. Against Norwich he was controlling despite barely having resettled at the club, away at Burnley he got the all-important winner and against Spurs he was magnificent, especially in the opening 35 minutes.

Yet when the going gets tough for Arsenal he can be guilty of going missing.

In terms of him ‘stepping up’, Odegaard is already well up this proverbial flight of stairs. It’s been a strong start to the campaign for him. Yet, as the key creator in this team the moments where the game state is leaning in favour of the opposition is where his presence could be more keenly felt.

It’s hoped, at least, that Crystal Palace will be the ones facing the majority of the shots on Monday in which case the 22-year-old will be able to put his usual stamp on proceedings. When the pendulum swings the other way though, we’d like to see a bit more.

But he’s still brilliant. A really special talent who has the world at his feet. It has to be remembered just how young he still is despite his name being known in the world of football for what feels like a decade.

There are no issues with Odegaard. Supporters can see the heights he can hit. The aim now is to find a level of consistency in his performances in challenging circumstances. That’s the next step.

A bit harsh, yes. But sometimes we need to be.