{"id":2337,"date":"2026-04-29T16:40:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T16:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=2337"},"modified":"2026-04-29T16:40:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T16:40:50","slug":"paul-scholes-says-arsenal-star-is-big-problem-and-doesnt-play-his-position-properly-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=2337","title":{"rendered":"Paul Scholes says Arsenal star is ‘big problem’ and ‘doesn’t play his position properly’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Martin Odegaard is a \u2018big problem\u2019 for Arsenal, says Manchester United great Paul Scholes (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paul Scholes has taken aim at Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, claiming the midfielder has become a \u2018big problem\u2019 for the club as he \u2018isn\u2019t playing his position properly\u2019 this season.<\/p>\n

Odegaard skippered Arsenal to an edgy 1-0 victory over Newcastle last weekend, a result that saw the Gunners reclaim top spot in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s men had slipped to second after falling defeat at the Etihad, before Manchester City won away to Burnley to climb to the summit for the first time since the opening week of the campaign.<\/p>\n

It leaves this year\u2019s title race wide open, with Arsenal able to move six points clear should they prevail in their London derby with Fulham at the Emirates on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n

Odegaard has proven an instrumental figure in Arsenal\u2019s rise to prominence again under Arteta, twice named as the club\u2019s Player of the Season since the Spaniard took charge in 2019.<\/p>\n

Not helped by persistent injury problems, though, Odegaard\u2019s contribution suffered a drastic dip last term. And it\u2019s been a similarly frustrating season this time around for the Norwegian, who has managed just one goal and five assists in his 21 league matches.<\/p>\n

Odegaard\u2019s appearance in Arsenal\u2019s defeat of Newcastle marked the first time the former Real Madrid man had completed back-to-back games for the Gunners since December.<\/p>\n

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Odegaard has struggled for form and fitness this season (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Norwegian has managed just one goal in the Premier League (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It has led to mounting speculation that Odegaard could move on from north London in the summer \u2013 rumours he was quick to shut down ahead of tonight\u2019s Champions League semi-final first leg versus Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n

But addressing Odegaard\u2019s struggles on the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate, Manchester United legend Scholes argued that the midfielder had become an issue for Arsenal, not helped by his position on the pitch.<\/p>\n

\u2018That game on Saturday (against Newcastle), I didn\u2019t see all of it, I probably saw the first half an hour, but I think Odegaard is a big problem for them,\u2019 Scholes explained.<\/p>\n

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\u2018I love Odegaard, I think he\u2019s brilliant. Technically, he\u2019s great, but he doesn\u2019t play his position properly.<\/p>\n

\u2018Half the time I saw him in the first 20 minutes he was almost the deepest man. <\/p>\n

\u2018That football, it\u2019s just bulls***.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Odegaard completed back-to-back games for the first time since December in Arsenal\u2019s win over Newcastle (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scholes believes Bukayo Saka\u2019s absence on the right flank will only have had a negative impact on Odegaard\u2019s performance level given the partnership they had built up in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

Asked if Odegaard playing too deep was down to the player himself or Arteta, Scholes replied: \u2018Whether they\u2019ve been told that or not, Odegaard is a No.10, Odegaard connects your midfield to your forward play.<\/p>\n

\u2018You wonder why there\u2019s no flow in your team when he\u2019s behind Martin Zubimendi, he\u2019s behind Declan Rice. How can you get connections there?<\/p>\n

\u2018I also think that Saka not being there is a problem because I think Odegaard does connect well with Saka. Once he gets in those positions behind the midfield, Saka\u2019s off and running.<\/p>\n

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Arteta\u2019s men hold a three-point advantage over City at the summit (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think he (Odegaard) will have quite that connection with Viktor Gyokeres because he\u2019s not that type of a player. Possibly with Kai Havertz he could have it.<\/p>\n

\u2018So if I\u2019m a central midfield player for Arsenal, \u201cI don\u2019t need you (Odegaard) here! You\u2019re not needed in between the defence and midfield! You\u2019ve got to be there (in the No.10 position) so I can progress the ball up the pitch to you, especially, because you\u2019ve got great ability!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s almost in a David Silva kind of way, how he connected Manchester City\u2019s midfield to the attacking play. Stay there!\u2019<\/p>\n

Pressed on which player out of Odegaard or Eberechi Eze is best suited to the No.10 role at Arsenal, Scholes responded: \u2018Look, I think either of them are suited to it. <\/p>\n

\u2018I think Eze will produce more moments from the edge of the box scoring goals than Odegaard, but I think Odegaard will make you a better football team if he plays in the right position.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Zubimendi doesn\u2019t progress the ball enough, according to Scholes (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Turning his attentions to one of Arsenal\u2019s high-profile summer recruits, Martin Zubimendi, Scholes admitted he had been left a little underwhelmed, claiming the Spain international \u2018doesn\u2019t progress the game enough\u2019. <\/p>\n

\u2018The Premier League is tough. It\u2019s a long season and he (Zubimendi) probably wouldn\u2019t have experienced anything like this before in Spain,\u2019 Scholes \u2013 an 11-time Premier League winner with Manchester United \u2013 continued.<\/p>\n

\u2018He wouldn\u2019t have been going for a title in Spain with Real Sociedad I suppose and when I\u2019d seen him for Sociedad, you (Gary Neville) were saying, if I remember rightly, that he\u2019s someone who progresses the ball up the pitch.<\/p>\n

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Scholes knows what it takes to win a league title having won 11 with United (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I never saw him as that. I didn\u2019t see him loads but I never thought he was going to be a player to make your team play good football, and I think your central midfield player has to do that. I don\u2019t think he progresses the game enough.\u2019<\/p>\n

According to Scholes, Manchester City have wrestled the momentum in their favour in this year\u2019s title race are are \u2018capable of winning every game\u2019 from now until the end of the campaign.<\/p>\n

\u2018City are handling it better with the big game last week, Arsenal limped over the line a little bit against Newcastle again,\u2019 the ex-England international went on.<\/p>\n

\u2018I just think there\u2019s a flow to City. I know there\u2019s not massive experience in the squad but they\u2019ve got the manager who has got the experience which is a big thing.<\/p>\n

\u2018Look, it\u2019s going to be close, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any doubting that, I just think City are capable of winning every game.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Who will win the Premier League title?<\/h3>\n