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New Stats Defends Martin Odegaard To Remain Captain Amid Criticism Over Arsenal Captaincy Role

Stats reveal why Odegaard deserves to wear the armband—despite growing pressure from critics

New Stats Defends Martin Odegaard To Remain Captain Amid Criticism Over Arsenal Captaincy Role
There has been plenty of talk about Martin Odegaard this season and not all of these talks has been kind. After performing wonderfully in previous seasons and winning Arsenal’s Player of the Season award two years in a row, Odegaard’s recent dip in goals and assists has left some fans and pundits asking tough questions about his performances and even his role as captain.

Martin Odegaard hasn’t had the season he wanted at Arsenal. With just two goals and six assists in the Premier League so far, his numbers are far from what fans have come to expect. He also missed eight games earlier in the season due to an ankle injury he picked up while playing for Norway, and since then, his form has dipped.

Even after one of his best performances of the season, scoring twice and assisting once in Arsenal’s 7-0 win over PSV Eindhoven , Odegaard admitted he wasn’t happy with how things had gone.

“I’m very used to people speaking about me, judging my performances, and I do that myself,” he said. “I’m harder on myself, and I know I have not been good enough, especially in front of goal. I work hard every day to improve it, and I know I have the ability and the talent to do it.”

After being named Arsenal’s Player of the Season for the last two years, it’s surprising that some people have started questioning his role as captain. But maybe those criticisms are unfair — and new data suggests exactly that.

According to statistics from FBRef, which uses Opta data, Odegaard still ranks as one of the top creative midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues. In fact, only Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise has made more passes into the box per 90 minutes this season. That’s an impressive stat and shows that Odegaard is still doing his job creatively — even if it doesn’t always show up on the score sheet.

So why haven’t his numbers been better?

There are a few reasons. Arsenal’s attack has been hit hard by injuries. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have missed a big part of the season, while Bukayo Saka has also been out with a hamstring injury. That means Odegaard hasn’t had his usual options to pass to or link up with. Without a strong, stable forward line, it’s harder to create goals.

Also, the usual right-hand side partnership of Odegaard, Saka, and Ben White hasn’t been seen much this season. When the three of them started together against Ipswich, it was the first time since November they had all played in the same lineup. Jurrien Timber has filled in well, but building chemistry with new teammates takes time.

Despite all this, Odegaard has shown signs of improvement in recent games against Real Madrid, Ipswich, and Crystal Palace. He’s working hard, staying focused, and there’s hope he’ll finish the season strong.

While it’s clear that Odegaard has not reached the same level or performance as in previous seasons, it is also clear that injuries and changing lineups have played a big part. The new stats prove that h is still one of Europe’s top creative players — and with a few more games to go, he has the chance to remind everyone why he’s Arsenal’s captain.

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