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Report: Mikel Arteta could play ‘special’ Arsenal midfielder as false nine

Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could use attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard as a false nine due to the injury suffered by striker Gabriel Jesus at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, according to TEAMtalk.

Mikel Arteta could play Martin Odegaard as false nine for Arsenal

Former Manchester City striker Jesus could be out for three months after undergoing surgery for an injury he suffered in Qatar while playing for Brazil.

Jesus, who joined Arsenal from defending Premier League champions City in the summer of 2022, is the number one striker at the Gunners.

So, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta needs to find a solution upfront while Jesus is out.

According to TEAMtalk, one of the options that Arteta is considering is to play Odegaard or Fabio Vieira as a false nine.

Martin Odegaard
Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Odegaard is the playmaker for Arsenal, but Arteta seems to think that the Norway international attacking midfielder – described as “special” by former Arsenal prospect Fabrice Muamba on his YouTube channel in November – could play in a different role.

Interesting

In our view, it will be interesting to see how Martin Odegaard does as a false nine if Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta does play him in that role.

We know that the Norwegian can score goals and is able to keep hold of the ball well, but maybe it would be better for Arsenal if Arteta plays Eddie Nketiah as the number 9 while Jesus is out instead of tinkering with the system a lot.