Arsenal’s hard-fought 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge highlighted Martin Odegaard’s crucial role and ongoing struggles with away form that continue to test Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Odegaard’s return breathes life into Arsenal’s attack
Martin Odegaard’s return from injury came just in time for Arsenal, whose creative spark had dimmed in his absence. His absence was most evident in Arsenal’s previous Champions League match against Inter Milan, where, despite a strong overall showing, the team ultimately ran out of ideas, resulting in an over-reliance on crosses into the box—a total of 33 in that game alone. With Odegaard back, Arsenal’s attack against Chelsea was far more varied, with only 13 crosses and two through balls that helped create meaningful scoring opportunities.
Beyond his work with the ball, Odegaard’s off-ball impact was just as vital, particularly in Arsenal’s press against Chelsea’s attempts to play out from the back. His involvement helped Arsenal generate 13 high turnovers within the first hour—more than they managed in entire matches against Liverpool and Newcastle. Arteta praised his captain’s resilience, saying, “I don’t know another player capable of (playing 90 minutes to that standard) after six weeks out.” The midfielder’s return offers Arsenal renewed hope of reaching their full potential as they push for consistency.
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Arsenal’s away form remains a concern
Arsenal’s away performances this season have fallen well below their 2024 standard, where they boasted an impressive record with 10 wins from 11 league games. This season has seen them struggle to maintain those results, particularly against high-caliber opposition like Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Newcastle, where suspensions and even playing with ten men have disrupted their performance. The drop-off has been stark, with Arsenal managing only one away goal (Gabriel Martinelli’s against Chelsea) across their recent away games in the league and Champions League.
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of their fixtures but admitted Arsenal were their own worst enemies at Stamford Bridge. Although Martinelli’s late goal put them ahead, they soon surrendered the lead due to defensive lapses, leaving Pedro Neto unmarked on the edge of the box, allowing him to score Chelsea’s equalizer. “The way we conceded, we have to fault ourselves,” Arteta admitted. Arsenal’s inconsistent away form remains a hurdle, especially with a significant gap separating them from title rivals Liverpool. Each dropped point puts more pressure on Arsenal to secure wins if they’re to stay in the title race.
Arteta’s wish for a fully fit squad
Post-match, Arteta expressed his frustration with Arsenal’s injury struggles. “What I’m praying is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped,” he said. Injuries have been a persistent issue, preventing Arsenal from fielding their ideal lineup consistently. Odegaard, Saka, Rice, and others have all faced spells on the sidelines, with Arteta having to adjust lineups frequently, including six different defensive setups in just 11 Premier League matches. Even Arsenal’s summer signing Mikel Merino has been limited by injuries, adding to the team’s instability.
Sunday’s lineup offered a glimpse of what Arsenal might look like at full strength, minus a few players like Riccardo Calafiori. Arteta hopes the international break will give his players time to recover fully, but he was cautious when discussing the national call-ups for key players like Saka, Rice, and Odegaard. A fully fit squad after the break would allow Arsenal to pursue the consistency needed to compete at the top, an objective Arteta knows will require his players to be available and in peak form.
