It would be fair to say that there is a strange atmosphere around Arsenal at the moment.
On the one hand, Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League and Champions League.
On the other hand, they haven’t won any of their last three league games and, following the defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, have seen their lead shrink to just four points.
Moreover, the attack just isn’t firing at the moment, at least domestically, and one star is starting to look like Arsenal’s new Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
What went wrong for Arsenal against Man United
The unfortunate thing for Arteta and Co is that it would be easier to single out the players who played well against United on Sunday. There were so many starters who looked miles off it, including summer signing Martin Zubimendi.
Now, the Spanish international has largely been a successful addition to the Gunners this term, but against the Red Devils, he was a shadow of himself, with the most high-profile mistake in the game being his pass-back to Bryan Mbuemo for the visitors’ opening goal.
After that, he looked nervous on the ball and like he was unable to keep up with the frantic pace of the encounter.
In all, it was probably his worst performance since his move, but he wasn’t alone in that regard as Piero Hincapie also failed to impress.
His cross may have eventually led to the Gunners’ opening goal, but after that, he had little impact, completing just 13 passes and making no dribbles.
It was a similar story for Jurrien Timber on the opposite flank; he failed to play a key pass or a single cross, lost 50% of his duels, committed two fouls, won just one tackle, and failed to make a single interception, clearance, or block a shot.
The likes of Gabriel Jesus, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magheles were equally disappointing on the night, but when it comes to Arsenal’s worst player against United, it’s impossible to look past one man, their new Aubameyang.
Arsenal’s new Aubameyang
While practically the entire Arsenal team let the fans down on Sunday evening, the worst performance of the lot came from Martin Odegaard.
The captain was completely ineffective against the Red Devils, so much so that, with the team chasing a goal, Arteta decided to take him off in the 59th minute.
While some would argue that such a move is too harsh, his statistics from the game suggest otherwise.
Odegaard vs Man Utd
Minutes
59′
Expected Goals
0.10
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.02
Assists
0
Key Passes
0
Crosses
0
Accurate Passes
14/21 (67%)
Shots on Target
0
Touches
27
Lost Possession
10
Tackles (Won)
2 (1)
Duels (Won)
5 (2)
Errors Leading to a Shot
1
All Stats via Sofascore
For example, when he came off, he had amassed a combined expected goal plus assists figure of just 0.12, played zero key passes, completed just 14 passes, failed to take a shot on target, lost the ball ten times, made an error that led to a United shot, lost three of five duels, and failed to play even one cross.
In short, it was a horror showing from the club’s captain and one that is making him look a bit like the Gunners’ new Aubameyang.
Now, by this we mean that the £30m signing was once a vital cog in Arteta’s machine, but over the last year or so, he slowly become more and more of a problem, and one with the armband.
Moreover, with a monster wage packet of a reported £240k-per-week, it’s becoming increasingly difficult not to see the similarities with how his form has followed that of the club’s former captain.
At one point, the Gabonese international was potentially the most lethal goalscorer in the Premier League, and then, after his bumper pay rise, he became a skipper who was actually more of a hindrance to his team than a help.
Now, all this might sound harsh on the Drammen-born ace, but it’s really not.
For example, in 23 appearances this season, totalling 1273 minutes, he has scored one goal and provided five assists, which comes out to a goal involvement on average every 3.83 games, or every 212.16 minutes.
Odegaard’s recent form
Season
24/25
25/26
Appearances
45
17
Minutes
3447′
1273′
Goals
6
1
Assists
12
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.4
0.35
Minutes per Goal Involvement
191.5′
212.16′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That simply isn’t good enough for someone in his position and on his wage.
Therefore, unless Odegaard has a dramatic uptick in form this season, it might be time for Arsenal to consider moving him on as they once did with Aubameyang.
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