Arsenal suffered a damaging 1-0 defeat to surprise Premier League title challengers Aston Villa on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side knew they had a game on their hands because Unai Emery’s Aston Villa had won 14 straight Premier League home games, including beating Manchester City.
Martin Ödegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all started the Villa Park fixture, but they all endured an evening to forget.
Jamie Redknapp thinks the levels of the Arsenal trio have dropped during this campaign, as he told Sky Sports Football (09/12/23 at 8:05 pm).
Last season, captain Martin Odegaard scored 15 goals and supplied eight assists from 37 Premier League matches – and this season, he has four goals and three assists.
But, according to Jamie Redknapp, ‘he hasn’t hit the heights’, alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, as he feels ‘there is more to come’.
Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli
“Odegaard hasn’t hit the heights of last year yet,” said Redknapp. “I remember thinking last year he was the best central midfield player in the country, and he was. This year, for whatever reason, but it might come.
“In the two wide areas. You look at Martinelli and Saka. They have been okay. But not the heights of last year, not yet as I say. There is more to come.
“I look at that midfield and how it functions and they haven’t quite got that right balance where they would dominate teams for 90 minutes.”
Arsenal’s forward line will fire
It was a very difficult game at Villa Park, their record is unmatched and they are beating everyone that comes into their path.
Any other day and they probably get a few goals. But despite that, fans and critics are still questioning the lack of firepower – Fabrizio Romano has shared his thoughts on Ivan Toney.
The work Mikel Arteta is doing needs to be trusted here, even if he decides in January not to bring in another number nine.
The club’s front three, including Odegaard, will come good and score the goals required.
Arsenal bottled winning the Premier League title last season because of their defence, if that comes good during the crunch moments then they will win the title.
The post 'He hasn't hit the heights': Sky pundit says 3 key Arsenal players have fallen off this season appeared first on HITC.
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