Martin Keown has suggested on BT Sport that Martin Odegaard looked like he didn’t actually know what Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wanted from him on Thursday.
Arsenal drew 0-0 with Villarreal in the Europa League in midweek, which saw them exit the competition.
The Gunners never really got going in the contest, as they meekly exited the competition.
Arsenal barely mustered up a shot on target in a game where they needed to score to progress to the final.
Keown was, therefore, very worried by what he saw in midfield.
Odegaard was deployed in a central midfield role, but was largely bypassed.
And Keown felt that the Real Madrid loanee didn’t actually look like he knew when to go and press and when to stand off.
“They seemed prepared to let the game flow away, it was really disappointing,” he said.
“I think it does come from the manager, he gives the tactics at the start, that’s the base. They looked lost.
“Odegaard didn’t know when to press, does he sit back in midfield? You’ve got to go and press!”
Odegaard’s lack of positional awareness often led to Thomas Partey looking very isolated in midfield at times.
As a result Arsenal struggled to win the ball back effectively or sustain any concerted pressure on the away side.
Arteta’s job is now coming under huge pressure, with Arsenal also failing to live up to expectations in the Premier League.
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