‘Mikel Arteta to blame Martin Odegaard for Arsenal sack after PSG defeat’
Mikel Arteta’s future has been plunged into doubt after Arsenal were sent crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals by PSG.
The Gunners are set to endure yet another campaign without silverware, having not won a major trophy since lifting the Covid-19-era FA Cup title during the 2019/20 season – the Spaniard’s first in charge.
Arteta has been under immense pressure from the Arsenal fans, especially with rivals Liverpool cruising to the Premier League title, plus losing the EFL Cup semi-final and being knocked out early in the FA Cup.
While there have been considerable improvements on the pitch in terms of performances, remaining 17 points behind the Reds in the league table would suggest little has changed for the Gunners.
They could even finish below Man City in the Premier League table, and Pep Guardiola‘s side are currently experiencing one of their worst campaigns since the Catalan took charge in 2016.
PSG have just rubbed even more salt in the wounds.
Mikel Arteta is no closer to major silverware after Champions League blow
After falling to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, the Gunners travelled to the Parc des Princes with everything to do against the Ligue 1 champions, and the season riding on a comeback.
Any remaining dreams were quickly crushed as Fabian Ruiz volleyed home the opener after 27 minutes, only to be compounded by Achraf Hakimi’s strike 18 minutes from time.
Bukayo Saka grabbed one goal back to keep his side in the game, but he had little support from his teammates after PSG weathered a fast Gunners start, and certainly from one in particular.
Martin Odegaard has been constantly slammed by Arsenal fans in recent weeks, with the captain often going missing at the important moments, and Arteta will be far from impressed with his performance.
| Martin Odegaard v PSG | Stats, as per FotMob |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.14 |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Touches | 57 |
| Successful dribbles | 0% (0/1) |
| Tackles won | 0% (0/1) |
Martin Odegaard goes missing again on the European stage
The biggest standout statistic from the game is that despite the Gunners’ dominance on the ball and the Norwegian’s playmaker ability, four other players had more touches than him, three of whom were defenders [FotMob].
Football Insider gave Odegaard the lowest match ranking for Arsenal during the visit to the Parc des Princes, and it was deserved too, as the midfielder went missing in action at a vital time.
The display coincided with the Gunners dropping out of the Champions League, and while Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Arteta’s future at Arsenal could be called into question next season, that timeline might be advanced now.
One piece of silverware in six years at the Emirates Stadium is simply not good enough, certainly not for the ever-expecting fans in attendance, and time could be running out for Arteta to prove he is the right man for the job.
The Spaniard has every right to look to his captain after another invisible performance, this time seeing them crash out of the most prestigious club competition in world football.
It might have been so different if the Dane’s early low shot hadn’t been turned round the post by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but once that moment went begging it was too much of the same from the former Real Madrid youngster, and his manager might now pay the price.