Paul Merson says £30m Arsenal player has gone backwards this year

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal have taken another step forward this season.

Once again, the Gunners are battling to win the Premier League title, and it looks like they will be even closer than they were last season, and this time around, they’ve done it while sustaining a decent Champions League challenge.

Arsenal have been much improved, but according to Paul Merson, there’s one player in the squad who isn’t having as good a season this time around.

Paul Merson says one Arsenal player has gone backwards

Merson was previewing this weekend’s north London derby on The Spurs Chat Podcast, and he stated that Martin Odegaard hasn’t had as good a season this time around, but he says he’s still been decent.

“My thoughts on Arsenal’s standout players. I have to say Declan Rice, he’s took Arsenal to an absolute other level this season, he’s been solid and you’d have to say Saka, he’s been outstanding. Odegaard, it’s not been the season he had last season, but he’s still been decent,” Merson said.

Harsh on Martin Odegaard

We can’t help but think that this is incredibly harsh.

Yes, Odegaard isn’t on track to match his 15 goals from last season, but he’s still been incredible and that’s what should be focused on.

The Norwegian has stepped up big time in recent weeks as the Arsenal captain, and he has played a huge part in Arsenal managing to sustain this title push.

Of course, last season may well prove to be the best of Odegaard’s career. After all, he was incredible, but even a slight drop off leaves him at a world-class level.

To say that Odegaard has been ‘decent’ this season is doing him a serious disservice, the Scandinavian has been utterly incredible, and he deserves all sorts of credit for his performances as of late.