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News
- 41 minutes ago
'Like a horror movie': How captain Odegaard is standing in the way of Arsenal's title chances
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 8 Apr 2026 11:12 BST
- 4 min read
Analysis
Arsenal’s chances of silverware this season will come down to the form and fitness of captain Martin Odegaard after an unconvincing display in one of the biggest moments of his side’s season so far.
The Gunners were heading for a frustrating and nervy draw in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting on Tuesday when Odegaard was substituted off in the 70th minute for Kai Havertz.
Odegaard had made just one pass into the Sporting penalty area all game and the Norwegian international had also gone down clutching his leg minutes earlier, which required treatment and left Mikel Arteta holding his breath over another potential injury to his skipper.
Current ETV
Martin Ødegaard
M, AM (C)
Arsenal
Martin Ødegaard
M, AM (C)
Arsenal
ETV Range
€64.5M - €78.9M
But the introduction of Havertz changed the game, with the German scoring a last-minute winner to give Arsenal a crucial advantage over their opponents going into the second leg next week.
Havertz, not for the first time this season, displayed the edge that Arsenal had been lacking under Odegaard and will have only cast further doubt over the credentials of the club captain, whose contract expires in two years.
Odegaard’s legacy and future will depend on whether the 27-year-old can overcome his rough patch to deliver when his team need it most and break Arsenal’s title hoodoo.
Odegaard facing make-or-break run in at Arsenal
Odegaard has been a crucial figure for Arsenal since his arrival in 2020 but the playmaker has struggled to recapture the form that saw him named the club’s player of the year for two successive seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Injuries appear to have taken their toll on former Real Madrid man and he is having his worst campaign yet with just seven goal contributions in all competitions.
Having only made 13 starts in the Premier League this season, the sight of Odegaard, once again, requiring treatment, drew groans from supporters as well as onlookers in Norway, with one pundit describing the scene as ‘like a horror movie’.
Former Norway defender Jesper Mathisen told TV2: "Those are scary images. Like watching a horror movie. A nightmare. He’s not sitting down for no reason. It would have been a big loss for both Arsenal and Norway if he had to go out with an injury again.”
Fortunately, Odegaard was seen celebrating the late win over Sporting and he will likely be fit enough to continue building fitness this weekend against Bournemouth, having only played twice since February due to injury.
STATS
Martin Ødegaard
M, AM (C)
Arsenal
Martin Ødegaard
M, AM (C)
Arsenal
But, with seven league games remaining, there will not be much time for Odegaard to shake off the rust and the next few weeks will have significant implications on whether he can be relied on enough to warrant a bumper new contract.
With Arsenal keen to ensure they do not fumble their best opportunity for a title yet, Odegaard will need to step up his game to prove his worth and secure his future or risk being the face of yet another season where the Gunners collapse at the final hurdle.
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