Aside from the injured Mikel Merino, Arsenal should have a fully fit and available squad to play against Chelsea on Sunday, with the likes of Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz available for selection again.
The Gunners have endured dire injury luck this season, although Mikel Arteta finally has almost the entirety of his ensemble to pick from. Havertz is expected to be ready to face Chelsea, while Odegaard made his return off the bench in the North London Derby.
Andrea Berta initiated a £250 million spending spree in the summer to protect Arsenal from an inevitable injury crisis, and so far this approach has borne fruit. That said, at no point has Arteta had all his resources available to him, and thus, the coming weeks will provide a clear indication of what the Spaniard believes to be his best eleven and most effective in possession structure.
The Martin Odegaard enigma
The last few weeks have seen speculation surrounding Odegaard’s future, with several reports emerging suggesting that a departure could be on the horizon for the Norwegian. However, credible sources believe that the player has no plans to leave Arsenal anytime soon and that Arteta views him as an integral part of his squad.
While he has his critics, it’s undeniable that the Gunners have been at their best as an attacking force when Odegaard has been on the pitch. The playmaker’s ball progression numbers are unparalleled, as he moves Arsenal into the final third and into the penalty area at a more prolific rate than any other player.
| Progressive Passes per 90 leaders in the Premier League 2024/25 (5+ 90s only) | |
| Martin Odegaard | 9.72 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 9.46 |
| Adam Wharton | 8.84 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 8.69 |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 8.24 |
| James Maddison | 8.19 |
Passing is often overlooked in football, with the attribute’s value regularly not at the forefront of football fans’ analysis. This is why Odegaard isn’t appreciated enough by many Gunners supporters.
It’s glaringly obvious that Arsenal struggle to get the ball into the box on the ground frequently enough when their skipper isn’t playing. When he is on the field, the North London outfit generally look a more fluid and creative team. Against Brighton and Aston Villa just before the new year, Odegaard was at his best and Arsenal subsequently put up their two highest expected goals numbers for the season in the Premier League.
That said, the 27-year-old is something of an enigma, particularly in today’s English top flight. Not only can he not remain fit, but he also looks physically weak at times on the pitch. His slight frame inhibits him from competing with bullish midfielders, and this can cost Arsenal in a set-piece centric league, as it did away at Brentford recently.
So while Arteta needs Odegaard on the pitch to conduct the Gunners’ attack and lead the press, he also has to figure out a way to counteract the midfield maestro’s declining physicality.
Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze need to play together
It’s clear from the clashes with Brighton and Villa that providing Odegaard with a platform to flourish will elevate the level of Arsenal’s attack. He’s the key cog in everything functioning in the final third for the Gunners.
What about the pieces around him? Too frequently last season, particularly in Bukayo Saka’s absence, too much responsibility was placed on Odegaard. Not only did he have to take care of ball progression and lead the press, he also had to be the creative heartbeat for the team in forward areas.
This may have been a reasonable set of responsibilities to ask of a 24-year-old Odegaard, but it’s clear that he’s no longer able to do everything following his severe ankle injury. Thus, the eco-system around him needs to be more creative and more final third focused – he’ll get the ball forward with little help.
This is where Arsenal’s big-money summer signing comes in. Eberechi Eze was outstanding in a more defined role in the North London Derby. He was tasked with remaining close to the box and working his magic in these dangerous areas, rather than focusing on build-up.
🎙️ "He just picks on Spurs."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 22, 2026
Ebere Eze gets ANOTHER! pic.twitter.com/mtRv3O5Jyi
This final third specialist is exactly what Odegaard requires in front of him, to allow his other work to be recognised without being berated for not contributing to 25 goals a season. He can no longer get the ball from deep areas into the final third and penalty area, and then get into the box himself. He needs more players to do the final bit instead of him.
Thus far, Odegaard and Eze have started just two Premier League games together. In the first, the former was substituted after just 18 minutes with a shoulder injury, at home to Nottingham Forest. In the second, the latter was taken off at half-time after allowing Matty Cash to escape him at the back post, away at Villa.
Eze needs to be deployed in the narrow left number ten role that Leandro Trossard has filled for much of this season. The ceiling of this Arsenal attack depends on it.
