How dare Gary Neville question Martin Odegaard's leadership skills! Arsenal's 'exceptional' skipper is still driving title challenge

The Norwegian midfielder may not be a stereotypical captain but he has stepped up to the mark time and time again this season

Martin Odegaard looked like a man possessed against Chelsea on Tuesday night. Arsenal’s captain was singled out for a lot of criticism after the defeat at Manchester City a few days earlier and he certainly gave the impression of a man with a point to prove as he drove Mikel Arteta’s side to a much needed 3-1 win.

The Norway international was at his very best, scoring twice to set the ball rolling in the first half and producing the type of tireless display that has been the hallmark of his impressive season in north London. Odegaard now has 14 goals in the Premier League, as well as eight assists. Those are fantastic numbers for a 24-year-old who started the campaign with many wondering whether he had it in him to be so decisive in the final third.

So, it’s somewhat surprising that the playmaker still seems to have people questioning him, both as a player and as a captain.

Getty ImagesNeville's criticism

Gary Neville did just that after the mauling at the Etihad, pointing a finger at the Gunners skipper when discussing what he felt went wrong for Arteta’s side. The pundit said: “I look at Martin Odegaard, fantastic professional. Oleksandr Zinchenko, great professional. But when you actually get to the highest pressurised moments in the biggest matches in the crux of the season, are they leaders then?

"Arsenal’s senior players, Partey, Zinchenko, Odegaard, in the most difficult period, they didn’t impact the rest of their team-mates on the pitch. Odegaard had probably his most difficult game against Manchester City."

Neville’s right, Odegaard did have a difficult game against City. But when you think about what went wrong at the Etihad, it’s surprising that he was one of the players picked out as an issue. Arsenal couldn't get close to their hosts on the night, but that was not down to how their skipper performed.

AdvertisementGettyArteta's response

Questioning Odegaard's leadership abilities was out of line. Odegaard has led Arsenal exceptionally well this season, both away from the pitch and with his performances on it. One quiet performance where he was completely starved of the ball does not change that.

Time and time again he has been the driving force behind Arsenal's surprise title challenge. He is often the man who sets the tone, and his manager knows it. “I don’t read those comments,” Arteta said of the criticism of his captain.

“What I can say is that he’s been exceptional for us. You look at his contribution, every single day in the team and then what he does out there for us every single time, it’s exceptional. 

"The perfect player that plays perfect football every time doesn’t exist. But what Martin has done this season deserves a lot of credit.”

GettyGuardiola out-thought Arteta

City were incredible in that game at the Etihad and barely let Arsenal out of their half for 90 minutes. Odegaard just didn’t see any of the ball. Had he been given the sort of space Kevin De Bruyne was repeatedly allowed to run into, there’s no doubt he would have been able to influence the game in the same way as the Belgium international.

Arsenal’s front four were passengers against City because Pep Guardiola got his tactics spot on and Mikel Arteta didn’t. The hosts went direct to Erling Haaland, bypassed the press and the Arsenal backline and midfield couldn’t deal with it. That took Odegaard out of the game completely.

But that subdued showing shouldn’t detract from what has been a superb season from the 24-year-old. He may not be your stereotypical captain. He doesn't scream and shout all of the time. But that doesn't mean he doesn’t show leadership qualities. Anyone who has watched Arsenal regularly this season will tell you that he shows them on a regular basis on the pitch.

GettyLeading by example

Odegaard has led by example with his performances all season long. There was the win at Tottenham, when he ran the show in the north London derby and inspired Arsenal to their first three-point haul at the home of their rivals in nine years.

He bagged both goals in the win at Wolves, while he both scored and produced one of the assists of the season in the excellent victory away at Brighton. The list goes on and on.

But what has really stood out this season with Odegaard is his hunger and his drive to lead from the front. No-one presses harder and does more on the pitch to try and get more out of his team-mates. He sets the standard that others must follow.

“The energy that he has, when he hasn’t got the ball, the movement, the quality, the way he is in that dressing room is exceptional,” Arteta said when asked about Odegaard after Tuesday night’s win. "We’re really pleased to have him as captain.”