Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has reportedly instructed Mikel Arteta to remove an underperforming player from the club, describing them as worse than Martin Odegaard, who has also been struggling this season. Despite Arsenal’s strong collective performance this season, one player has stood out as a disappointment.
Last season, Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes faded as Manchester City emerged as champions. However, this setback hasn’t affected their performances this season. Under Mikel Arteta’s leadership, Arsenal is currently unbeaten in the league, with only one loss in all competitions, which occurred in a Champions League match against RC Lens.
One of their most notable victories this season was a 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, with Arteta, once an assistant to Guardiola, outmaneuvering his former mentor. However, not everything is perfect at Arsenal. New signing Kai Havertz has yet to make a significant impact, and there are concerns about Martin Odegaard’s recent performances.
Compared to his stellar 2022-23 season, Odegaard’s current performances have been underwhelming. Despite wearing the captain’s armband, he hasn’t been as influential for Arsenal this season. His recent displays indicate a player who is not at his best, and Arteta even left him out as a substitute in a match against Sheffield United, which Arsenal won 5-0 without him.
Havertz’s performance since joining Arsenal has also raised eyebrows. His move from Chelsea to the Emirates for £67.5 million was seen as a crucial opportunity to revitalize his career after a disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge. However, he is yet to prove his critics wrong with subpar performances, with an average rating of 6.89 in his first 10 games for Arsenal according to Sofascore. His only goal for the club so far came from a penalty against AFC Bournemouth.
Against Sheffield United, Havertz failed to capitalize on defensive vulnerabilities, attempting just one shot and missing a “big chance,” as per Sofascore. His performances have given more ammunition to those who doubted his abilities.
While Arteta hopes Havertz will find his form at Arsenal, the German player is currently lagging behind Odegaard and has not demonstrated the ability to score or assist goals consistently, as Odegaard did last season. Therefore, there are suggestions that Havertz should be benched for the time being.
