Arsenal must demand more from Martin Odegaard

It’s been said numerous times over that Arsenal have the youngest squad in the Premier League. That’s because they do, by quite some margin.

Fans are on board with the strategy. It’s one that has helped cultivate a mood of optimism among the supporters who’ve long since watched a troupe of ageing players coming towards the end of their careers coast through a healthy wage packet in north London.

Drawing a blank against Southampton, the burden of scoring was placed on a front three that consisted of Eddie Nketiah (22), Gabriel Martinelli (20), and Bukayo Saka (20). Organically these players will improve almost by default, but the pressure on them to score would weigh heavy on any young forward.

Across the squad there is youth everywhere. Two central defenders aged 24 years old respectively are still relatively young for players in their positions. A goalkeeper who is 23 years old is also mostly uncommon at this level. So too a creative midfielder who only turned 23 years old at the back end of last year.

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Arsenal must demand more from Martin Odegaard against Chelsea after a trio of uninspiring Premier League performances

But in the case of Martin Odegaard it is slightly different. Rarely do you find players of his age with such a wealth of experience. Despite barely featuring for them, he was a Real Madrid player for six seasons, and he captains his country. Odegaard is coming up towards senior 300 career appearances so, y’know, he’s been around the block.

So while his best years are still ahead of him, it’s fair to demand more from the man tipped to also become captain of this historic club.

There was a period in the not too distant past where he was performing at a level few in the Premier League could match, let alone those at Arsenal. Elegant on the ball, tenacious off it, and integral to Arsenal’s fluidity, operating at the world class level he was it was hard to see where he’d let up. Class went hand in hand with consistency.

Since the international break concluded he’s been well off the boil. 5/6 out of 10 performances have constituted quite the drop off. While he was on the ball and trying to dictate matter against Southampton, there were wayward shots, loose final passes and not the same energy out of possession fans had grown accustomed to.

Tweaks to the system have affected most players in the group over the past few games but as the technical and tactical leader, irrespective of his age, it is fair to demand a higher calibre of performance from the summer signing on account of his importance.

He’ll know more than anyone else that he hasn’t been hitting his level. It’s apparent with his teammates and from the manager just how valued and trusted he is within the group. A repeat display in west London as he produced on the south coast will not suffice, nor will it in any of the other six matches remaining if Arsenal are to achieve their targets.

Given how youthful this squad is, Odegaard has to be seen as one of the senior players. Perhaps not in age, although certainly in on-field performance. That seniority hasn’t been as prevalent lately, and Arsenal will sorely need it against Chelsea.