It is also a result of Arsenal’s own changes over the summer. Last year, Arsenal most often played with a three-man midfield of Odegaard, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, which very obviously made Odegaard its most naturally attacking member.
This season, Mikel Arteta has chosen to add an extra attacker. The most-used midfields in 2023-24 are: Rice/Odegaard/Havertz or Rice/Odegaard/Trossard. With Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli ahead of them, Odegaard is suddenly the second most defensive midfielder.
That has an inevitable impact. During the 2-2 draw against Chelsea, Odegaard had only 13 touches in the final third in 77 minutes. Against Sevilla in the Champions League, 11 in 72 minutes. And even when Arsenal were winning comfortably, the same applied: 23 touches in the final third during 90 minutes of a 4-0 win against Bournemouth.
Recently, however, there is evidence that Odegaard will find a way. Against Brentford in Arsenal’s last league game before this weekend, the Norwegian had 41 touches in the final third. Against Wolves on Saturday, he managed 54. He only beat that total twice during the whole of last season.
Finally, being in the final third more often allows Odegaard to arrive in his trademark position, roughly 15 yards from goal and central and somehow usually unmarked, to sweep home a finish. There are few better in the country at that type of finish.
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