Is Martin Odegaard more influential in a deep-lying role at Arsenal?

Gabriel Jesus might have claimed the post-match headlines on Wednesday, yet Arsenal also owe their Carabao Cup progression to Martin Odegaard and his wondrous impact from a deep-lying position.

Our captain has found life tough in recent matches, with Everton proving to be impenetrable last week and Fulham likewise curbing his influence before that. Their ‘lockdown’ efforts meant few chances were carved from open play and the Gunners duly coughed up four points on their title charge.

But Mikel Arteta looked his way again in midweek – as Arsenal stared down the barrel of a quarter-final exit versus Crystal Palace – and tasked him with swinging the momentum back in home favour; he was not left disappointed.    

Positioned in a deep RCM role, Odegaard gains much more room to manoeuvre away from the low-block, enjoys more time to assess his options and, crucially, gets a better mental picture of the pitch ahead of him. His trusted left boot, then, is quite capable of delivering the execution to match it – as Gabriel Jesus can certainly attest to.

Other factors help Odegaard be so impactful: teammates' sharp movement to open up passing lanes, lung-busting runs out wide that stretch the opposition backline, and the velvet touch of attackers like Jesus, who capitalise on his well-crafted goal-scoring opportunities when they arise.       

However, Odegaard brings the true majesty of our off-the-ball operations to bear. He always has his uses further forward—not least because of his pressing—but can sometimes be ponderous on the ball and, along with being left-footed, is perhaps at a double disadvantage for exploiting any defensive gaps from close range.

Those traits are less problematic at the midfield base (although he can still cause damage anywhere) and it was there, in that deep-lying berth, where his influence shone at its brilliant best in midweek; getting Arsenal back to their fluid selves after the half-time break and ensuring the trophy dream lives on.

Matters could vary somewhat on Saturday as Crystal Palace, being the home team, might not be so inclined to sit off as they did at the Emirates and allow Arsenal to dictate proceedings. But any front-footedness at the weekend could also be best neutralised via calm heads and tidy passing in build-up phases, and so Odegaard will likely bear most value in that deep role again.

He ticks so many boxes but, when it comes to being a midfield/frontline conduit, there really is no man like Ode.    

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