Dean Ashton has praised Martin Odegaard having ‘noticed’ how the Arsenal ace influenced Mikel Arteta’s mid-match changes against Everton. The Gunners won 4-0 this Wednesday.
Bukayo Saka (40’), Gabriel Martinelli (45’+1, 80’) and Odegaard (71’) hit to lift Arsenal five points clear of title rivals Manchester City. The Gunners and Citizens have both now played 25 fixtures so far this term, as well. While their goal differences are just six goals apart, too.
Everton made Arsenal wait until the closing stages of the first half as Sean Dyche’s side put up a stern defensive performance. Yet Martinelli dashed the Toffees’ hopes after scoring in stoppage time. Saka robbed the dawdling Idrissa Gueye of possession in a dangerous area.
Saka had already broken the deadlock with a thumping shot past Jordan Pickford at a tight angle, too. While Odegaard and Martinelli ensured Everton would not reply as the Arsenal captain turned Leandro Trossard’s delivery home before the Brazilian met Eddie Nketiah’s.
Martinelli is now Arsenal’s top-scorer in the top-flight so far this season with 11 goals in 25 games. Saka ranks second at Emirates Stadium with 10 in 25 ahead of Odegaard with nine in 24. While Saka has also now provided nine assists ahead of Odegaard with seven so far.
Odegaard impressed Ashton with his influence on Arteta as Arsenal beat Everton
Odegaard did not register an assist as Arsenal beat Everton. But the 24-year-old impressed Ashton with how the Gunners captain influenced Arteta’s mid-match changes. The former West Ham United and England striker admired how he read the game whilst locked at 0-0.
“I’ve noticed Odegaard a couple of times has pointed towards his manager,” Ashton told talkSPORT (01/03, 21:52). “I’ve noticed that Martinelli, after he spoke to Arteta, has now gone through the middle.
“It’s almost as if Odegaard said: ‘I can sense in this game we just need to change something. Maybe just put Martinelli through the middle, a bit of pace, change things up’.
“I guess from a manager’s point of view, it’s not a bad thing that you’ve got your captain recognising something on the pitch.”
Saka broke the deadlock soon after Martinelli moved into the centre following Odegaard’s suggestions to Arteta as Arsenal hosted Everton. His goal also came from Martinelli taking play over to the right and finding left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko before Saka worked space.
Martinelli would also make it 2-0 in first-half stoppage-time after he and Saka closed down Gueye centrally. The Toffees ace initially took possession off of Odegaard. But he was blasé about playing the ball back to Pickford as Saka nipped the ball through for Martinelli to hit.
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