£30m Arsenal player now told he has become more important than Bukayo Saka

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Arsenal have some of the best players in the Premier League at their disposal right now.

The Gunners have a squad jam-packed full of world-class talent, and they have been title contenders over the past two years for a reason.

Unfortunately, Arsenal haven’t been able to mount as strong a title challenge this time around.

Indeed, Arsenal have failed to win any of their last four Premier League games, and their recent struggles have coincided with the absence of Martin Odegaard.

Speaking to ESPN, Shaka Hislop has been discussing who Arsenal’s most important players are after he was presented with a list written on the website

Hislop agreed that Odegaard is Arsenal’s most important player now, claiming that the £30m man has been seriously missed throughout this injury-stricken period.

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Martin Odegaard is Arsenal’s most important player.

Hislop made the case for Odegaard being Arsenal’s most important player.

Odegaard’s injury has been a big problem for Arsenal, and Hislop believes the midfielder is now the Gunners’ most important player.

“Yeah I think so, to your point about Martin Odegaard, I’m not sure if this list was done two months ago, Martin Odegaard would be top, but because of the injury, you realise how important Martin Odegaard has been to Arsenal.

“We would’ve said something completely different a month or two ago. If Bukayo Saka is out of the team, maybe they don’t struggle as much as they have the last two weeks, the same with Saliba and Gabriel, if both are out, then Arsenal have a problem, but if one is, you feel the other can make up for any slack.

“Arsenal have coped without Declan Rice because of suspension earlier this season and you feel it wouldn’t have as big of an impact as we’ve seen with Odegaard. I have no problem with that list for Arsenal.

William Saliba is so important for Arsenal

Hislop says that Odegaard is Arsenal’s most important player, but there’s an argument to make that William Saliba takes that crown.

Indeed, Arsenal’s record with and without Saliba is very different.

Saliba played every single league game for Arsenal last season, hence why they picked up 89 points on their way to a second-place finish.

However, the season prior, Saliba missed the final 11 games of the season due to a back injury, and, they simply weren’t the same team.

Many believe Arsenal would’ve won the league in 2022/23 if Saliba wasn’t injured.

Arsenal’s win record without Saliba drops to below 50%, and that just shows how important the Frenchman is.

Yes, Odegaard was also missed when he was injured recently, but the drop off when Saliba isn’t in the team is much more significant.

Luckily, Arsenal’s key players are now returning to form and fitness, and Mikel Arteta will be hoping that can coincide with an uptick in form.