Paul Scholes believes Arsenal’s quest to win the Premier League has been hindered by one key player in their starting XI.
The Gunners are vying with rivals Manchester City this season as they look to end their 22-year title drought.
Arsenal currently sit top of the table on 73 points with four games remaining – three points clear of City who have a game in hand.
The north London outfit have been top of the table for the majority of the campaign but lost back-to-back Premier League matches before a nervy 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.
And Manchester United legend Scholes believes their issues lie at the feet of captain Martin Odegaard.
Scholes says the midfielder is playing too deep, which stifles their attack.
Paul Scholes (right) believes Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is a major problem for them
Mikel Arteta (second left) is trying to end Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title
Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, he also took aim at Martin Zubimendi, saying: ‘The Premier League’s tough, isn’t it? It’s a long season. Zubimendi probably wouldn’t have experienced anything like this before in Spain.
‘Gary Neville was saying that he was someone who progresses the ball up the pitch. I never saw him as that. I didn’t see him loads, but I never thought he was going to be a player that’s going to make your team play good football. Your central midfield player has to do that.
‘I don’t think he progresses the game enough. That game on Saturday [against Newcastle] – I didn’t see all of it, I probably saw the first half an hour – but Martin Odegaard’s a big problem for them as well.
‘I love Odegaard – he’s brilliant technically – he’s great, but he doesn’t play his position properly. Half the time when I saw him in the first 20 minutes, he was almost the deepest man.
‘Whether he’s been told that or not [to drift between the midfield and defenders], Odegaard is a No 10 but he was playing behind Zubimendi, behind Declan Rice. How can he get connections there [to the striker]? Saka not being there is a problem because Odegaard does connect well with Bukayo Saka.
‘Once he gets in them positions behind the midfield, then Saka’s off and running. If I’m a central midfield player from Arsenal, I don’t need him here [near his own box]. You’re not needed near the back. He’s got to be there [in the No 10] so they can progress the ball up the pitch to him, especially because he’s got great ability, almost in a David Silva kind of way.
‘Eberechi Eze will produce more moments from the edge of the box scoring goals than Odegaard but Odegaard will make you a better football team if he plays in the right position.’
Scholes’ long-time former United and England team-mate Gary Neville backed Arsenal to win the league at the start of the season and believes if they are to get over the line then most of the squad will have to follow the example of Eze.
‘Arsenal have a group of players who, only Eberechi Eze, is showing a little bit of swagger and confidence,’ he said.
‘The rest of them are quite rigid right now.’
Arsenal will be looking to build upon their victory over Newcastle when they host London rivals Fulham on Saturday (5.30pm).
