Odegaard’s Subdued Performance
Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semi-final at Emirates Stadium on April 29, 2025, with Ousmane Dembele’s early strike proving decisive. Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, commentating for Amazon Prime, singled out Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard as “disappointing,” citing his failure to influence the game. “I expected more of him to stamp his authority,” Shearer said, noting Odegaard’s inability to deliver killer passes or make box runs, as PSG’s midfield, led by Vitinha, effectively neutralized him.
Midfield Disarray Exposed
Wayne Rooney, also on commentary, criticized Arsenal’s midfield trio of Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino for their disorganized pressing. “They’re all over the place,” Rooney said, highlighting how their aggressive approach left gaps, exploited by PSG for Dembele’s goal after just four minutes. He suggested Arsenal should have sat deeper to avoid being punished, as PSG’s 26-pass move for the opener showcased their ability to carve through the Gunners’ high press. The absence of Thomas Partey, suspended after a yellow card against Real Madrid, further disrupted Arsenal’s structure.
Odegaard’s Struggles in Context
Odegaard, typically Arsenal’s creative linchpin, had a quiet night, completing only 27 passes and creating one chance before being substituted by Ethan Nwaneri in stoppage time. Social media posts on X reflected fan frustration, with stats showing 0.08 expected assists, 14 possessions lost, and 1/6 dribbles completed. His season stats—2 goals and 6 assists in 26 Premier League games, plus 3 goals and 1 assist in 10 Champions League matches—indicate a dip from his 2022/23 peak (15 goals, 7 assists). Injuries, including a six-week ankle issue in September 2024, have hampered the 26-year-old Norwegian, who has struggled to regain his rhythm.
PSG’s Tactical Edge
PSG’s dominance in the opening 20 minutes, where they held 62% possession and completed 148 passes to Arsenal’s 76, exposed the Gunners’ midfield frailties. Dembele, Europe’s top scorer with 32 goals, capitalized on space created by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s movement, while Joao Neves’ cutback bypassed Rice’s marking. Arsenal rallied post-halftime, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli testing Gianluigi Donnarumma, but a disallowed Merino goal and late PSG chances, including Goncalo Ramos hitting the bar, kept the scoreline at 1-0. Mikel Arteta admitted a “very specific” issue, likely the midfield press, was corrected mid-game but not enough to salvage a draw.
Arsenal’s Road Ahead
Despite the loss, Arsenal remain in contention for the second leg at Parc des Princes, with Partey’s return expected to bolster the midfield. Shearer’s pre-match optimism, citing Aston Villa’s second-half press against PSG as a blueprint, suggests Arsenal can exploit PSG’s set-piece weaknesses (19 of 50 goals conceded). However, Odegaard’s lack of impact, echoed by fans on X calling for Nwaneri to start, puts pressure on the captain to deliver in Paris. With only two teams overcoming a home semi-final first-leg defeat in modern Champions League history, Arsenal need Odegaard to rediscover his 2023 form, when he led with 8.7 passes into the final third per game, to keep their final hopes alive.
