At a Glance:
- Roy Keane has questioned Arsenal ace Martin Odegaard.
- Odegaard must silence critics like Keane against Newcastle.
- Odegaard’s record against Newcastle is not the best.
Arsenal fans worldwide will be hoping that Martin Odegaard leads from the front against Newcastle United and steers the Gunners to a much-needed victory.
If Arsenal beat Newcastle, they will take the first step towards building a points gap between themselves and Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side will face Fulham as well before City play against Everton in May.
Odegaard’s legacy at Arsenal could be on the line if the North Londoners fail to lift any trophy once again this campaign, with the Norwegian being out of form since last season.
In the latest episode of The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast, Roy Keane briefly questioned the 27-year-old’s quality, saying: “I still don’t think Odegaard is enough. He’s neat and tidy and he’s good but…”
Arsenal ace Martin Odegaard needs to humble Roy Keane vs Newcastle
Odegaard looked bright against Manchester City but in Arsenal’s upcoming contest against Newcastle, he will have to emerge as a match-winner in the final stretch of the campaign.
As Roy Keane claimed, the former Real Madrid maestro always looks “neat and tidy” on the ball but the question is whether he has the productivity of an elite number 10 to be the difference-maker for Arsenal.
In the past two seasons, Odegaard’s tally of four goals and 13 assists in 40 league starts certainly does not paint the picture of a world-class attacking midfielder.
| Martin Odegaard- ’24/25 and ’25/26 seasons | Premier League stats |
| Starts | 40 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 13 |
However, it would be remiss to liken his impact to the likes Manchester City’s key man Rayan Cherki or Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes.
With Arsenal’s creativity being criticised, Odegaard has a chance to help his side make a statement in the title race by showing that all the questions about their credentials in recent weeks are unwarranted.
Martin Odegaard record vs Newcastle
Odegaard’s record against Newcastle can certainly improve.
- Matches: 10
- Wins: 6
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 3
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 2
While the Drammen-born attacker has won six, drawn one and lost three out of his 10 matches against the Magpies, he has only registered one goal and two assists.
On Saturday, Odegaard has the chance to right his wrongs and showcase why he is the man Arsenal should count on to win the league this campaign.
