CurrentReport Blog Former Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has expressed his view that Mikel Arteta’s squad is feeling the absence of captain Martin Odegaard. The Norway international, who has been sidelined due to injury, has missed several key games, leaving a noticeable gap in Arsenal’s midfield.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, Parlour likened Odegaard’s playstyle to Arsenal icon Dennis Bergkamp, underscoring Odegaard’s irreplaceable role in the team. “Arsenal have really missed Odegaard. I played with Dennis Bergkamp, and I would put Martin in that bracket,” he said. “His vision, weight of pass, and ability to get out of tight situations remind me of Bergkamp.”
While Arsenal has experimented with Declan Rice as a potential fill-in for Odegaard’s role, Parlour highlighted the challenges of replacing a player with Odegaard’s skill set. “Arsenal don’t really have an Odegaard backup,” he added, noting how tough it is to lose such a pivotal player.
