Arsenal must sell the Balloon d’Or nominated for £ 21m

Of all the problems that incapsulate Arsenal’s fights this season, Martin Odegaard’s The shape or lack of them felt the most significant.

For several campaigns before this, Norwegian Maestro was comfortable one of the most important beginners of rifles, as evidenced by his The second consecutive player of the year award Last season.

However, whether he is reduced to his spraying, fatigue or falling in confidence, former Madrid Wonderkid was simply not ready for scratches this season.

Worse, the 26-year-old is surpassed by the player who has sold Artea a few windows before, and some might even say that he is not doing well enough to wear the captain’s ribbon.

Recent Arsenal captains

Before Odegaard was named Captain in the summer 2022At only 23 years old, Arsenal leader was Alexandre Lacazette.

The French striker had a tape only for the second half of the 21/22 season, getting it on Stand Basis in December 2021 And then permanently in February 2022 Before leaving the club at the end of the contract that summer.

While former Lyon Star led the line well enough during his short stay as a captain, he eventually failed to lead the team to any fame or in the Champions League places, eventually finished out of fifth place.

The opposite, while Pierre Emerick Aubameyang Time in charge ended with shameHe had a tape for the last time North Londonci in July 2020 raised the FA Cup, scoring goals against Manchester City in the semifinals and Chelsea in the finals.

Furthermore, for the first half of his stay in the team leading, Gabines Superstar was probably the most important member of the team, because his incredible goal record was the only thing that prevented them from sliding even further down the table.

However, while the unreal Marks lost the ribbon in the blamed circumstances, it was nowhere as bad as the loss of Captain Granite Xhak.

The Swiss international was given by a former manager Unai Emery in September 2019 but lost it Only two months later When he swore in the Emirat believers and threw his ribbon and shirt on the crowd as they were beating him while replaced by a crystal palace.

A persistent midfielder eventually won fans back to side but left the club Join Bayer Leverkusen 2023 for only £ 21mwhere he won the Bundesliga last season and this year surpasses Odegaard in a key area.

As Xhaka surpasses Odegaard in 2024/25

So, the first thing to say is that, as Odegaard, mostly plays in a more advanced position than Xhake, the fact that it outweighs it for goals and assistants should not be a surprise.

This said, the fact that his sum of Three goals and six assists is only marginal better than a traction of a Swiss star Two goals and six assists Perhaps an indicator of how weaker was a weaker effect this year.

However, a raw output is not an area where former Ace Arsenal surpasses the current captain.

Instead, it’s something equally important: their passing. More specifically, their progressive passages and pass into the last third.

For example, according to FBREF -U, “Dangerous” Star Leverkusen, as Called Ian WrightOn average, 10.5 progressive passages are 90 of this term.

It only happens the second highest over The best five leagues in Europe, and significantly more than the number of eight weapons, Who average 10.2Despite playing more on the field.

Likewise, former North London captain who was nominated For Ballon d’OrAlso in second place in the top five leagues to go to Last third, at 11.7While his remote heir was just Able to produce 5.34 on average 90.

Finally, Odegaard is an undeniably talented footballer and someone who could lead Arsenal at some point to fame, but this season is incredibly insidious, and the fact that 32-year-old Xhaka surpasses him.