Pain in the Arsenal
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3 reasons Martin Odegaard should be rotated in upcoming games

By William Upton

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (L) and Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder #08 Martin Odegaard react after the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on September 30, 2023. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (L) and Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder #08 Martin Odegaard react after the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on September 30, 2023. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1695114915063767504

3. To give other players a chance

You may be wondering who replaces Odegaard if you take him out of the team. Well, that’s the biggest reason I would like him to be rotated more.

We have some great players in the squad who aren’t getting any minutes at all, most notably Emile Smith Rowe. The young player was injured most of last year and hasn’t gotten a string of performances since then.

However, I remember his performances when Arteta was struggling and many fans wanted the manager gone. Smith Rowe was delightful, so fluid and so efficient at finishing chances. His combination with Saka is perfect on paper, so I am desperate to see that in the Premier League again.

If Smith Rowe gets sold in January, I will be devastated.

The other player I would love to see in that role is Fabio Vieira. The Portuguese player belongs to a special breed of footballers who have a killer touch, either for crosses or shots. Having a player like that in your side is absolute hell for the opposition and it is something that Odegaard doesn’t quite offer.

So, those are the reasons I’d like to see more rotation. To re-emphasise, I strongly think that Odegaard should start most games and that he is one of the best players in the team. I just expect a little bit more from him than what he’s shown this season, and I think a bit of time on the bench may unlock his true potential.

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