Arteta Considered Dropping Odegaard for Chelsea Amid Arsenal’s Struggles
With Arsenal’s title hopes hanging by a thread, former England striker Jay Bothroyd has urged Mikel Arteta to make a bold tactical adjustment ahead of their crucial clash against Chelsea. Arsenal currently trail league leaders Liverpool by 15 points, and with their game in hand set for this weekend, they must find a way to get back to winning ways. Arteta Considered Dropping Odegaard for Chelsea.
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The Gunners have failed to secure a victory in their last three Premier League matches, scoring just one goal despite registering over 50 shots. Their attacking struggles have been worsened by injuries to key forwards, forcing Arteta to experiment with players like Mikel Merino in advanced roles. As the search for solutions continues, Bothroyd has suggested an unexpected lineup change that could revive Arsenal’s form.
Bothroyd’s Surprising Tactical Suggestion
Ahead of their Monday morning (AEDT) fixture against Chelsea, Bothroyd believes Arsenal should introduce young prospect Ethan Nwaneri into the starting eleven. He outlined his preferred lineup on The Optus Sport Football Podcast, saying:
“I really want to see [Gabriel] Martinelli on the right, Nwaneri on the right side of midfield, [Martin] Odegaard on the left of the three in midfield, and Declan Rice as the defensive midfielder.”
Bothroyd also expressed concerns over the frequent positional changes Rice has had to endure, arguing that stabilizing his role would benefit the team. However, his most controversial claim was his belief that Nwaneri is a better option than Odegaard in midfield. Arteta Considered Dropping Odegaard for Chelsea.
“I need to see Nwaneri in midfield. I think he is better than Odegaard!” he declared.
Odegaard’s Role Under Scrutiny
While Odegaard has been instrumental in Arsenal’s attack, Bothroyd believes shifting him to the left side of midfield would improve the team’s balance. He highlighted how well Nwaneri performed in Odegaard’s absence earlier in the season, stating that the young midfielder offers more attacking versatility.
“Nwaneri played there when [Bukayo] Saka and Odegaard were injured, and I think he can do everything Odegaard can do—maybe even more,” he said. “He can go past players, he’s more of a goal threat, and I’d like to see Odegaard operate on the left.”
Bothroyd also suggested that moving Odegaard to the left would complement Leandro Trossard, who often plays on that side. He pointed out Arsenal’s over-reliance on attacking down the right flank and argued that a reshuffle in midfield could restore balance to the team. Arteta Considered Dropping Odegaard for Chelsea.
Arsenal Must Break Predictability
European football expert Phil Kitromilides echoed the need for Arsenal to become less predictable. He referenced Manchester United’s recent defensive setup against the Gunners as an example of how teams have learned to neutralize their attack.
“United showed how to play against Arsenal. They sat back in a 5-4-1 and hit them on the counter-attack. Chelsea might adopt a similar approach, especially since the game is at the Emirates and not Stamford Bridge,” Kitromilides explained.
He added that if Chelsea can avoid conceding set pieces, they stand a good chance of keeping Arsenal at bay, as the Gunners’ open-play expected goals (xG) remains low.
Chelsea’s Own Attacking Concerns
While Arsenal struggles in front of goal, Chelsea are facing their own issues. Star forward Cole Palmer is enduring a goal drought that dates back to January. His frustration reached a peak when he missed a penalty in Chelsea’s recent win over Leicester—his first career miss from the spot.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes Palmer’s desperation to end his drought is affecting his decision-making.
“The longer he goes without scoring, the more selfish he becomes. Last weekend, he had opportunities to pass but instead tried to dribble past multiple defenders and ended up losing the ball,” Schwarzer noted.
Bothroyd added that the absence of Nicolas Jackson has negatively impacted Palmer’s performances.
“It’s not a coincidence that since Jackson got injured, Palmer has struggled. Jackson runs in behind, creating space for him. But now, with [Christopher] N’Kunku preferring to drop deep, Palmer has less freedom,” he explained.
With both Arsenal and Chelsea searching for solutions to their attacking woes, their upcoming showdown could be decisive in shaping their seasons. For Arsenal, a tactical switch—including the possible benching of Odegaard—might be the gamble they need to keep their title hopes alive.
