Gunners ace named ‘most important’ Premier League player as biggest problem in winless run revealed

Martin Keown has explained why he believes an Arsenal striker is the most important player in the Premier League, while the former defender also gave an insight into the club’s problems in the final third of late.

When you think about who the Premier League’s most important player is, you might think of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer, William Saliba or Bukayo Saka.

But according to Arsenal invincible Keown, to whom honor actually belongs Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal have had to work in the absence of their ultra-creative captain, although Odegaard, graciously for Mikel Arteta, returned to the starting XI last time out against Chelsea. However, the Gunners still failed to record a win in that match, extending their streak without a win in the league to four matches.

Odegaard will undoubtedly prove crucial in determining whether Arsenal can bring in the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City to end their twenty-plus year wait for a Premier League title.

And talk to talkSPORTKeown suggested that Odegaard’s importance in the current EPL landscape is second to none, while also stating that the biggest problem in Arsenal’s attacking play of late has been their predictability.

“I think that will become clear if Odegaard is not available,” Keown began. “The creativity he created was very important. It will be like taking Cole Palmer out of the Chelsea team considering how well Odegaard did.

“I think first of all, the fact that he’s coming back from a six-week absence and getting back to work like he did shows the commitment he’s made when he’s been away.

“He set up Arsenal’s goal, it was great to see Martinelli set that up (against Chelsea), but lately we have become predictable around the opponent’s goal.

“And maybe that’s at the top of the shopping list for a striker, but really the problem for Arsenal so far this season has been about discipline and injuries.”

Keown added: “Now that Odegaard is back, I think the way he performed (against Chelsea) deserves praise.

“The fact that he has been out for so long shows how hardworking he is. He hit the ground running and created the goal. Arteta will pray and hope that the fortunes turn around now.’

Keown continued: “Arsenal are not winning the tight games this season, they were last year, with Inter Milan being one of them, and unfortunately lost the game with a controversial decision against them.

“Last season they scored 91 goals (Premier League), but most of that was in and around Odegaard. And (Smile) Smith Rowe was allowed to leave (to join Fulham) because Odegaard, two years without even missing a game, and lo and behold, Smith Rowe is gone with our blessing.

“But you can see now that if (Arteta) had had him he might have been useful. (Ethan) Nwaneri is maybe six months away from where the manager wants him.

“So he’s held him back a bit, a very good talent, so the timing doesn’t really help from an Arsenal point of view.

“But it’s one of those things where the manager says, ‘Okay, you’ve got to show your teeth, you’ve got to go out in the next game and it’s got to be three points, and it’s got to be six or seven.’ games where you really put pressure on Liverpool.’

“Odegaard created 102 chances (last season) – more than anyone in the Premier League and 41 times he took the ball in the final third.

“So both in and out of possession I struggle to think of a more important player in the Premier League.

“It’s a shame to say it can’t be about one player, but we could look at Man City and say: no Rodri has created this spiraling effect. Players are sometimes irreplaceable, and Odegaard has been that for Arsenal.”

Latest Arsenal News – Trossard, Sterling, Baena

In other news, Mail Plus report are Arsenal in conversation with Leandro Trossard about a new contract.

The Belgian – who turns 30 next month – is set to receive a ‘significant’ pay rise and remains a key role for Arteta.

Elsewhere, former Premier League striker Stan Collymore has taken aim at Raheem Sterling and his difficult spell at Arsenal so far.

‘Raheem Sterling has been a huge disappointment’ Collymore told The Metro. “He came in and said he would give the club his best work, but that didn’t happen.

“He has demonstrably made a poor impression so far and he is definitely one of the flops of the season as he promised to do his best work at Arsenal. He is an experienced player who has won everything there is to win. He was expected to take the locker room to the next level, but he didn’t do that.”

Finally, Arsenal have taken the first steps towards signing assistant king Alex Baena. The gunners scouted the Villarreal forward during Spain’s match against Denmark last Friday, in which Baena played alongside Mikel Merino.

Baena led LaLiga last year with fourteen assists and his contract with Villarreal contains a release clause of sixty million euros.