Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard is enduring another difficult season, plagued by injuries, and these troubles have subsequently prompted rumours surrounding the future of Mikel Arteta’s captain at the Emirates.
Odegaard has been absent of late, struggling with recurring fitness issues that have haunted him over the last 18 months. He did, however, manage a cameo appearance off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, providing an assist for Viktor Gyokeres in the dying embers in N17.
This was the Norwegian’s sixth assist of what has been a relatively productive campaign for him when he’s been fit, although his increasing lack of availability will certainly be a concern for Arteta moving forward. Noise around a potential exit in the summer has circulated in recent weeks, and a concrete update has now been provided on this front.
Martin Odegaard Arsenal transfer update
Odegaard has been a key cog in Arteta’s project since 2021, helping to lead the Gunners from mid-table mediocrity to perennial title challengers.
That said, his level of importance to Arsenal has certainly not been as glaring over the last year-and-a-half. Since injuring his ankle in September 2024 – a setback that required surgery – he hasn’t quite been able to reproduce his best form.
The 27-year-old has played 1,076 minutes in the Premier League this season, a total exceeded by the likes of Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori. More frequent absences from matchday squads and inconsistent performances when he is involved have been the catalyst for rumours linking him with a departure from North London.
However, Football.London report that Odegaard has no plans to leave Arsenal this summer and remains an integral member of Arteta’s squad. The Norway international, who will captain his country in their first World Cup since 1998 this summer, is determined to regain his place in the starting eleven and aid the Gunners in their pursuit of silverware.
While some would argue that Arsenal should be considering sanctioning the exit of a 27-year-old midfielder who is persistently struggling with his fitness, Arteta views the situation through a different lens. The Spaniard is hugely supportive of his skipper and believes that he can still make a major impact for his team.
That said, Eberechi Eze scored twice and thrived against Tottenham, meaning Odegaard certainly has a fight on his hands to reclaim his spot at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.
Can Martin Odegaard rediscover his best form?
Just before the new year, Odegaard was starting to show his best level again. The Norwegian was central to wins over Brighton and Aston Villa at the Emirates, games in which Arsenal mustered up over three expected goals.
He looked fresh, agile and creative, dictating the Gunners’ attack from the right-half space, just like he did between 2022 and 2024. This clearly demonstrates that the player that Arsenal fans grew accustomed to watching isn’t gone, and that he can still deliver meaningful contributions to a team pushing on multiple fronts.
| 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 |
That said, Arteta may need to be more careful with the way he uses the playmaker. Rather than playing him for 90 minutes twice a week, the Spaniard ought to rotate him in and out of the side on a regular basis – a luxury the manager can now afford with Eze in his ranks.
Odegaard doesn’t need to be the indispensable figure he once was if he can no longer maintain this role physically – he merely needs to be a useful tool in the toolbox for Arteta.
