Darren Bent names the Arsenal duo who are ‘nowhere near the levels’ this season

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Arsenal are currently enjoying a winter break after an eventful first half of the Premier League season. 

The main talking point for Mikel Arteta has been. Who will score goals for the team in their Premier League title push? And will Arsenal bring in another striker in January?

Rather than looking elsewhere for options and spending more money, Darren Bent thinks the answer lies within, especially with the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

The only issue for the boyhood Arsenal fan is that Gabriel Martinelli, compared to his 15 Premier League goals last season, is now ’nowhere near the levels’, just like his captain, Martin Odegaard, as he told PL Productions (15/01/24 at 2:50 pm). 

That drop in form, or lack of killer nature in the final third, is hurting the Gunners and it has resulted in their pretty poor festive period.

Not only in the Premier League, but as Arsenal proved in the FA Cup against Liverpool. They created chance after chance after chance, yet they couldn’t find the back of the net.

Darren Bent thinks it’s time for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard to find their form again because they have been off it.

Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard’s form

“It has to be,” said Bent on if the answer to Arsenal’s goalscoring problems is from within.

“Martinelli, for instance, last season was fantastic. 15 goals (and now) nowhere near the levels. Odegaard, he got 15 goals last season, and (now) nowhere near the levels. 

“I think Saka’s numbers (compared to last season) are similar. But he looks like he needs a rest. We are playing him every minute of every single game.”

Arsenal have time to respond

The big issue with Arsenal crumbling last season was that their downfall happened right towards the end of the season.

The blip has come far earlier this time around and it might just suit them because it allows the team to respond.

This isn’t a case of Arsenal not creating any chances. They are producing plenty of them. It’s the lack of calmness and ruthless nature in front of goal that is costing them.

And you imagine, as soon as that ball rolls in an explosive fashion again, then it will re-open the floodgates for Arteta and his players and the goals will return.