Can Arsenal really afford to lose Martin Ødegaard in 2026?
Martin Ødegaard is heavily linked with a move away from Arsenal if anything coming out in the media is to be believed, but despite his struggles last season, it remains unclear if Arsenal can really afford to lose their captain.
Two games into the FIFA World Cup, and Martin Ødegaard hasn’t just led Norway into the knockout stages; he has orchestrated things in midfield, with back-to-back assists while Erling Haaland steals the headlines.
The captain had a lot of injury issues last season, which saw him miss important parts of the season, while he wasn’t really up to speed when he returned for the final stretch, meaning the Gunners didn’t see the best version of their captain at all.
Nevertheless, they were able to get the Premier League title race over the line in their fourth attempt, finally ending a 22-year drought, and the aftermath is fans believing the team has overgrown their captain.
Martin Ødegaard has received a lot of criticism from his own fans, but for his footballing and leadership abilities. Many, including club legend Tony Adams, have called for him to be stripped of the armband in favor of Declan Rice.
Nevertheless, while some fans believe the champions have overgrown their maestro, Mikel Arteta revealed the dressing room views it differently, with Ødegaard winning the squad’s internal captaincy vote by a landslide.
This revelation demonstrates that his teammates do not share the fans’ skepticism, and that there is more to the silent genius that only those within the club can see.
Recent reports in the news also suggest that the Norwegian could be leaving the club this summer, with Inter his likely destination, while Arsenal remains fully focused on signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa as his replacement.
However, the bigger question is whether Arsenal are truly ready to let go of their captain, who has been one of their most reliable players since joining from Real Madrid, first on loan in the winter of 2021 before signing permanently in the summer.
Assessing Martin Ødegaard’s Most Difficult Campaign
Last season might have been a historic one for Arsenal, but they really struggled on the injury front, with all outfield players missing in action at certain points. Martin Ødegaard led the way due to multiple setbacks.
The 27-year-old started just 16 of his 24 Premier League appearances, while also setting an unwanted record of the first player to be substituted in the first half of three consecutive games in history, all due to injuries.
The Arsenal captain suffered seven injuries and missed 30 games for club and country in a total of 137 days. It was by far his most difficult campaign, and should the club want to move on from that, it wouldn’t be the worst decision. But, there is more to it.
The Hidden Cost of the Title Charges
Arsenal have been consistent in the Premier League title race for four consecutive seasons, and Ødegaard has been the creative force of the team, while he also had an unusual goalscoring campaign, where he broke the record for midfielders.
Fans still relish his astonishing performances in 2022-23, when Arsenal first secured Champions League football as consolation for narrowly missing out on the title to Manchester City.
The cost of coming close and not getting the job done, and the consequences of the thousands of minutes accumulated all built up on their best players; it wasn’t just Martin Ødegaard; he just came out worse amongst their attacking stars.
Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka were also missing for a significant period of the season due to serious injuries, and if Arsenal are considering the sale of their captain due to lack of fitness, such a decision may be justified, but premature.
The Rise of Eze and Arteta’s Search for Pace
Eberechi Eze had a first season to remember at Arsenal, which, if we can indeed say, was his first at the club that gave up on him at 14. He was really a stitch in time for the Gunners, who beat competition from Tottenham Hotspur to his signature later in the window.
The Englishman played a vital role in their title success, especially in the absence of Martin Ødegaard. His vision and dynamism are the opposite of what the captain brings. Eze excels in picking out the key passes rather than focusing on build-up like Ødegaard.
His impact may have given Mikel Arteta a new idea on how to improve their attack next season, especially now that they look set to go all out for Aston Villa attacking midfielder, Morgan Rogers.
The Intangible Risk of Selling the Arsenal Skipper
Should Arsenal decide to sell Martin Ødegaard this summer, waiver on the back of his worst season due to lack of fitness, but not essentially a dip in performance, they could risk missing out on his best years.
At 27, the former Real Madrid sensation is still in his prime, and evidence of him still having the genius touches can be drawn from his limited appearances last season, especially during the run-in, when he wasn’t at his best fitness level.
No Arsenal player assisted more Premier League goals than Martin Ødegaard, who also ranks in the top 10 for expected open play assists per 90 minutes for all players in the league.
To sell him at his lowest means the market will definitely undervalue him, and to see him explode elsewhere will be one of the biggest losses the club has had in the transfer window, especially in the inflated market.
Martin Ødegaard has two more years on his contract, and selling may be the best if renewal is not being discussed, but the latter should be considered, especially with the club already getting over the anxiety of winning the league title.
The truth is that Arsenal can not afford to lose Martin Ødegaard. Not at this time. He still has the years ahead of him, and having just recovered from a series of injuries, his form for Norway in the World Cup speaks volumes about what is to come.
With international brilliance reminding the world of his abilities, selling Martin Ødegaard now would be a catastrophic mistake, and Arsenal, who have finally conquered England and will want to kick off a dominant era, must know better.
