Does The Martin Ødegaard Role Need A Fine Retune?

The Martin Ødegaard role remains one of Arsenal’s best weapons as the Norwegian midfielder is still one of the most technically refined players and one of the Premier League’s most intelligent midfielders.

As captain, he sets the tempo, leads the press and acts as the connective tissue between midfield and attack. Yet this season, there has been a growing debate around whether his role is maximising his strengths or quietly diluting his influence.

This is not a question of talent or commitment. It is a tactical discussion about positioning, responsibility and how Arsenal’s evolving structure has reshaped where and how Ødegaard affects games.

How The Martin Ødegaard Role Has Shifted This Season

In previous campaigns, Ødegaard operated primarily as a right-sided advanced midfielder, almost a hybrid number 10.

He received the ball between the lines, combined quickly with Bukayo Saka, and the overlapping right-back consistently arrived in the box late to finish moves. His influence was immediate and visible.

This season, the Martin Odegaard role has subtly changed.

He is still nominally the right-sided number eight, but he is spending more time dropping deeper during build-up phases. At times, he acts as a secondary controller alongside the pivot rather than a pure final third creator.

The intention is clear. Arsenal want more control and cleaner progression. By involving Ødegaard earlier in possession, Arteta ensures technical security and press resistance.

However, the trade-off is that Ødegaard often receives the ball further from goal, with more defenders already set.

When The Martin Ødegaard Role Works And When It Doesn’t

There are matches where Martin Ødegaard’s role works extremely well. Against teams that press aggressively or leave space between the lines, his deeper involvement allows Arsenal to bypass pressure and progress centrally. Ødegaard’s awareness, body orientation and passing angles help Arsenal maintain rhythm and territory.

However, against low blocks or compact midfields, this role becomes less effective. When Ødegaard starts deeper, he must travel further to reach dangerous zones. By the time he arrives, the opposition shape is often settled, limiting his ability to combine or create separation.

In those matches, Ødegaard’s influence becomes quieter. He still touches the ball frequently, but those touches are more lateral, more conservative and less decisive. The issue is not that he disappears, but that his actions occur in less threatening areas.

The Martin Odegaard Role vs A Traditional Number 10

Comparing the Martin Odegaard role to a traditional number 10 role helps clarify the problem. A classic number 10 role is insulated from early build-up responsibilities and lives between the lines. Ødegaard, by contrast, is asked to do both jobs.

He presses intensely, tracks runners and helps maintain midfield structure. These defensive responsibilities are valuable, but they also affect his attacking timing. When Arsenal regain possession, Ødegaard is sometimes behind the ball instead of ahead of it.

This means fewer early receptions facing the goal and fewer moments where he can dictate play with one or two touches. Instead, he often becomes the player who stabilises possession before the attack rather than the one who finishes it.

Public perception often leans on goals and assists, but output is heavily shaped by the role. The captain’s role this season naturally leads to fewer shots, fewer box touches and fewer headline moments.

That does not mean his influence has vanished. His chance creation numbers remain solid, and Arsenal still look more cohesive with him on the pitch. However, the quality of his chances and where they originate from have shifted.

When Ødegaard receives the ball higher, Arsenal’s attacks accelerate. When he receives it deeper, the game slows. That is not a criticism of his playmaking, but a reflection of spatial dynamics at the elite level.