Jason Cundy and Jamie O’Hara have reportedly told Arsenal to depose Martin Odegaard as club captain.
Odegaard has made 230 appearances in all competitions over his six seasons at the Emirates. At the age of 23, he was given the armband in 2022 thanks to his leadership of the Norwegian national team.
Due to a recurring knee injury, the midfield player has struggled this season and has missed 12 Premier League games.
Mikel Arteta included the 27-year-old in the starting lineup on Wednesday night before their Champions League semi-final matchup with Atletico Madrid.
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He only recorded one blocked shot, lost possession three times, and prevailed in one of two contested duels as he struggled to leave a lasting impact.
As a result, the Norwegian was replaced by Eberechi Eze prior to the hour mark.
O’Hara Blasts Odegaard’s Performance Against Atletico
Following the first-leg of the semi-final, O’Hara and Cundy spoke on talkSPORT’s Sports Bar regarding whether Odegaard deserves to remain in Arteta’s side.
The ex-Tottenham player said: “Last season, he wasn’t great either. He’s been terrible this season, getting dragged off in a Champions League semi-final when you’re the captain is never a good look.
“I do believe that Arsenal may be growing away from Odegaard. Maybe they’ve got to look at a player who can come in and be that talisman.
“When Eze came on tonight, he kept getting caught in possession. He’s done a couple of good things, but is he the world-class star in the number 10 role for Arsenal? I’m not sure. But Odegaard needs to up his game.
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