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Ian Wright thinks he knows why Martin Odegaard’s form at Arsenal has dropped as he gives his theory
Since he returned from his ankle injury in November, Martin Odegaard hasn’t quite been at the peak of his powers for Arsenal.
Odegaard was booed against Manchester United during the club’s exit from the FA Cup, a response that the Arsenal captain didn’t deserve.
Arsenal fans were desperate for Odegaard to return whilst he was out injured, but since he’s now returned he’s often♈ been criticised.
The Norwegian is seen as part of the blame for Mikel Arteta’s toothless attack of late, even if that is slightly harshಌ.
But it’s undeniable that Odegaard hasn’t been at his best, a situation Ian Wright discussed on the ‘Wrighty’s House’ podcast.
Ian Wright thinks Martin Odegaard is playing through an injury
Int🅺erestingly, Wright thought tꦦhat Odegaard was perhaps being hindered right now by returning too soon from his ankle injury, saying he didn’t look ‘right’.
The former Arsenal striker was worried about the Gunners captain, who would have been under a lot of pressure to return as soon as po𝔉ssible.
Wright explained: “I think you𝓡 made a good point, right, about him coming back maybe earlier than he should h♉ave.
“Simply because of, when you watch him, especially in, whether it was thꦰe Newcastle or Tottenham game, and he looks, when he goes down, he’s staying down a little bit longer.
“He’s not, he’s not right.
READ MORE: Why Benjamin Sesko rejected Arsenal in the summer as Mikeဣl Arteta targets RB Leipzig strඣiker again
“He’s not, and I’ll tell you what it makes me worry about is, I know that Saka had an operation, so he’s going to take longer. But I worry that they will be doing th🍌e same thing, rushing him through.
“An🌟d then you see what you guys won’t see on a daily basis when your top players in your club, when you are at the higher echelons of the league and your top players are out.
“It’s every day, someone, how you doing? How long, what do you think? We need 𝓀you, we neꦫed you.
“And people will say things like that, and they’re saying it l✨ike, yo man, how you doing Saka? We need you bro, we need you bro.
“That jovial, jokey kind of thing, somet🐭hing where you are injured at the time, sitting there thinking, I really want to be playing and you can’t, that adds to the pressure of getting back sooner.
“Look at, lis🍃ten to the discourse when Odegaard was injured. Oh my God, we need him back, we need him back.”
Martin Odegaard is also suffering from Bukayo Saka absence
Of ওcourse, it should be noted that Odegaard isও also suffering from the absence of Bukayo Saka alongside him.
Saka wasn’t the same pꦗlayer without Odegaard in tandem, and the Norwegian is now suffering a similar fate.
Arsenal need to bolster their attacking options this month, especially given that Raheem Sterling is struggling to step up during Saka’s absence.
Fabrizio Romano insisted that 🌞Arsenal are still in the race to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, a 🤪situation th𒊎e club are keeping a close eye on.
But perhaps the club would be better served chasing more realistic targets this moღnth, a marꦇket in which it is incredibly hard to find value mid-season.