Fans picked up on what Arsenal star Bukayo Saka did when captain Martin Odegaard was in possession during the Gunners’ loss to Bournemouth.
After suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday, Arsenal looked to bounce back against the Cherries in the Premier League’s evening kick-off.
But after going 1-0 up through Declan Rice, second half goals from Dean Huijsen and Evanilson meant Bournemouth completed the double over Arsenal.
Though Liverpool were confirmed as Premier League champions last week, Arsenal have not yet sealed second place and now have Manchester City and Newcastle hot on their tails going into the final stretch.
They are also just seven points ahead of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, having played a game more.
Plenty of Arsenal players were criticised after throwing away the lead to lose at the Emirates and not for the first time, skipper Odegaard was slammed for an ineffective display lacking creativity.
In fact, at one point in the second half, viewers noticed a moment involving Saka and Odegaard when the Norwegian received the ball in a promising position outside the box after a pass from Arsenal’s winger.
As the former Real Madrid man dribbled aimlessly and refrained from taking a shot, Saka appeared to sense that he might just be displaced and proceeded to run the opposite way and try and stop a counter attack.
One fan on X observed: “Saka knew to track back already before he even attempted to shoot.”
A second said: “Saka started running back to defend as soon as he started dribbling tears.”
A third agreed: “The fact that Saka started to track back after Ø started to dribble says a lot.”
A fourth fumed: “I was screaming my lungs!! He used to take these shots. What’s happened to him?”
Martin Odegaard was slammed by Arsenal fans online. Image: Getty
Martin Odegaard brands Arsenal performance “not acceptable”
After Arsenal failed to win at home for the third consecutive game, Odegaard spoke to Sky Sports and made his feelings clear on the second half showing from Arsenal – branding it “chaotic and sloppy”, as well as a “massive disappointment”.
“I think we started the game pretty well,” Odegaard said.
“We got the goal and felt like we controlled pretty much everything, but they score and we lose control of the game.
“We never find the rhythm after that, it is too chaotic and too sloppy from us. The second half is not acceptable.
“We have to move on as we have a massive game coming up. We have to get ready for that and analyse this game as well.”
Arsenal need to respond instantly as they take on PSG in the Champions League semi final second leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, as well as a clash with newly crowned champions Liverpool on 11 May.
