The reason for Thomas Partey’s outburst at Martin Odegaard as Mikel Arteta discloses Arsenal’s aspiration

As to why Mikel Arteta disclosed Arsenal’s wishes to Martin Odegaard, prompting Thomas Partey to yell at him.Arsenal had not scored more than one goal from open play in any of their previous ten matches, and they had not attempted more than ten attempts in a league game since the most recent international break.

They were able to generate 1.82xG from open play and register 13 attempts against Chelsea. The timing of the Norwegian’s return was impeccable. Arsenal has been severely lacking in creativity as a result of the absence of a direct replacement for their captain.

This was most evident during the match against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Despite the fact that it was one of the Gunners’ most impressive recent performances, it may seem odd to assert that they were rather at a loss for ideas. Arsenal, devoid of their creative centre in the centre, swung in cross after cross, concluding the evening with 33 goals from open play. Mikel Arteta famously declared that it was “pure maths” that his team would score more if they continued to send balls into the box, following a 2-1 loss to Wolves in 2020, which was the last time they had managed to score that many.

Arsenal generated only 13 crosses at Stamford Bridge with Odegaard positioned centrally between the lines. Additionally, they executed two through balls, as opposed to none at the San Siro. Odegaard’s influence on the object is not the sole factor.

Arsenal’s operations are significantly influenced by the Norwegian. The Gunners consistently created opportunities by pressuring Chelsea as they played out from the back, with Odegaard playing a central role. Arsenal had 13 strong turnovers within the first hour in west London. In the entirety of the match, they managed to score only 10 points against Liverpool and Newcastle.

The impact of Odegaard on individuals such as Bukayo Saka and Ben White is a topic that warrants further discussion. With two weeks to contemplate this performance, there will be ample opportunity to do so. But before proceeding, it is imperative to recognise the exceptional performance of a player who has been sidelined for nearly two months due to an ankle injury.