Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain as Ousmane Dembele’s opening goal was the difference between both sides.
In the first 15 to 20 minutes of the contest, Mikel Arteta and Co seemed shell-shocked as Luis Enrique’s side were dominating proceedings.
But from then onwards, Arsenal started to gain ascendancy and on the basis of their spirited performance, the hosts were perhaps unfortunate to be on the losing side against PSG.
However, some Gunners players were far from their best on Tuesday night.
One of them was Martin Odegaard, who has been the subject of criticism from Arsenal fans after his disappointing display against PSG.
Arsenal fans slate Martin Odegaard after his display vs PSG
One Arsenal fan tore into Odegaard’s showing against PSG by writing: “Arteta needs to start exploring playing [Ethan] Nwaneri over Odegaard, I’ve had enough.”
A second Arsenal fan was displeased with Martin Odegaard as they felt that it was Bukayo Saka who was truly giving it all instead of him against PSG: “Saka is dropping deep, carrying, drifting, creating and shooting and Odegaard is just there.”
A third supporter questioned the Norwegian’s status as the Gunners’ skipper, as he disparagingly wrote: “Martin Odegaard is a disgrace of a captain.”
Another fan was not too kind either, questioning the former Real Madrid playmaker’s influence as a whole: “Calling Odegaard a passenger in midfield feels very kind, this guy is deadweight when we have the ball.”
A fifth Arsenal fan not only slated Odegaard’s performance against PSG but Mikel Arteta’s in-game management as well: “Mikel Merino was winning everything in the air and we wasted him in midfield. Odegaard may as well sat in the stands he was that non-existent. Arteta’s in-game management today was bad.”
Finally, a sixth Arsenal fan suggested Odegaard was nowhere to be seen against PSG, as he stated: “Odegaard and Nwaneri created the same amount of chances. Odegaard was on the pitch for 90 minutes. Nwaneri was on the pitch five minutes.”
It’s safe to say that the 26-year-old has plenty of making up to do as the Emirates faithful are clearly unhappy with him.
Martin Odegaard stats for Arsenal vs PSG in Champions League semi-final
Odegaard was expected to step up against PSG by Arsenal fans as he is one of their best players.
But it is impossible to deny that the Norwegian captain’s latest display was a complete no-show.
The stats back up Arsenal fans’ frustrations about Odegaard’s showing against PSG as well.
| MARTIN ODEGAARD STATS VS PSG | |
| CHANCES CREATED | 1 |
| SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES | 2/6 |
| DUELS WON | 2/8 |
| PASSES INTO THE FINAL THIRD | 1 |
| TOUCHES IN OPPOSITION BOX | 1 |
Odegaard created just one chance against the French giants while having touched the ball only once in the opposition box as well.
The £30 million man was dispossessed once in the process as well while completing just two out of his six dribbles.
Losing six out of his eight duels as well, Odegaard had a night to forget and he must step up his game in the second leg.
