Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has told The Mirror that Martin Odegaard needs to score more goals and create more chances for his teammates.
Arteta has raved about the Norway international attacking midfielder, but the Arsenal boss has also outlined where he wants the 23-year-old to improve.
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard
Arteta said about Odegaard: “He needs to play close to the opponents’ box. He needs to create more goals, he needs to score more goals, he needs to make more runs in behind, he needs to be closer to the strikers to give them support, and he can do that.
“He needs to score more free-kicks. He can still contribute more on our set-pieces. His defensive work is phenomenal.
“There are areas where he can only get better, and the only way to get better is to agree on them, and then practise.”
Strong message
In our view, it is very good man-management from Arteta regarding Arsenal star Odegaard.
Arteta clearly likes the Norway international and rates him highly, but at the same time, he wants him to develop and improve further.
And, in our opinion, the Arsenal boss does have a good point.
Yes, we know that stats are not everything in football, but there is value in numbers.
Odegaard is a very good and silky player, but his numbers do need to be better.
The Arsenal no. 8 has scored four goals and provided three assists in 18 Premier League starts so far this season.
In 36 appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal so far in his career, the Norwegian has scored only five goals and created just six big chances.
Odegaard is a creative midfielder, and we think that that he needs to create more big chances for his teammates.
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