‘He’s struggled’… Darren Bent says £30m Arsenal player has been nowhere near as good this season

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Arsenal are in the exact same position they were in last season after 14 games.

The Gunners are top of the Premier League table after 14 matches, and while they’re in a great position, it still feels like something isn’t clicking this term.

Yes, results have been great, but there’ve been a few too many close calls for our liking with many games being decided by just one goal.

That attacking dominance we saw last season just hasn’t been there this term, and that’s partially down to a dip in form from Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian hasn’t been at his best this season, and speaking on the Kelly and Wrighty Show, Darren Bent has echoed that sentiment, claiming that defenders are making Odegaard’s life much more difficult for him.

Odegaard struggling

Bent shared his verdict on the £30m man.

“Yeah he’s someone who’s not been at his best this season. Last season he was phenomenal. But this season people have been tighter to him, they haven’t given him as much space, he’s struggled a bit, but he’s started to get it together again,” Bent said.

Difficult

Odegaard was electric last season, and it was always going to be tougher this time around.

The problem is that when you play that well, opponents will start to make a concerted effort to stop you, and that’s exactly what’s happened this term.

As Bent says, Odegaard has been marked much more tightly this term, opponents have started to target him, and his efforts have been stifled.

Luckily, Arsenal have been able to pick up wins while Odegaard hasn’t been at his best, but if they do want to push on and win the title or even the Champions League, they need to find a way to get their captain back in the game and playing the football he showed he can play last season.