‘A disgrace for this club’ – Arsenal fans are pissed after 3-2 loss to Man United
Arsenal suffered a major setback in the Premier League title race after losing 3-2 to a Manchester United on the rise at the Emirates on Sunday. One player in particular has received strong criticism from fans for his poor performance.
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Mikel Arteta’s side went into the clash with the opportunity to regain their seven-point lead at the top of the table after Manchester City and Aston Villa had won their games. Michael Carrick, on the other hand, wanted to build on the momentum after an impressive win in the Manchester derby.
With home advantage, “The Gunners” took the initiative from the first whistle and laid siege to Senne Lammen’s goal in the first half hour. That pressure bore fruit when Lisandro Martínez put the ball into his own goal just before the 30-minute mark.
Martin Ødegaard fired the ball towards goal, but Manchester United’s centre-back got the final touch and directed the ball past a helpless Lammens. The hosts then shot themselves in the foot when Martín Zubimendi laid it straight up for Bryan Mbeumo who equalised.
Arsenal were then paralyzed when Patrick Dorgu hammered in an incredible volley from outside the box and turned the game around.
Matheus Cunha restored United’s lead after Mikel Merino thought he had saved a point for his team. The Brazilian paralyzed David Raya with an incredible shot that curled in and won the game.
Martin Ødegaard’s limitations revealed against Man United
Despite playing a significant role in the first goal, Arsenal captain Ødegaard struggled to show his best attacking play. The Norwegian is expected to break up defenses and get his attacking players in goal position, but that was not the case on Sunday night.
Against a Manchester United midfield with a mix of experience and youth, Ødegaard really struggled to rise to the occasion – something he has been criticised for in the past.
He was substituted after just 62 minutes while his team chased the equation, having completed just 14 of his 21 attempted passes (67%). The midfielder lost the ball 10 times and had only 27 touches in an hour of football.
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Arsenal fans want the ‘terrible’ Ødegaard gone
The supporters were quick to show their frustration with their number 8, as many took to social media to criticize Ødegaard’s performance. One annoyed fan butchered the home atmosphere and suggested that the midfielder’s lying nature in possession contributed to the “flat” feeling:
“Just like every other game. The performance is so flat, the crowd is subdued, it kills the atmosphere.
“Ødegaard cannot continue to start for us. He’s terrible. Everything is going backwards.”
The idea that the former Real Madrid player doesn’t offer enough to his team was repeated when another took to social media: “Ødegaard doesn’t do much in our games. He’s our captain but doesn’t do much as an attacking player – we need a creative player.” Another stated: “Time to bench or sell Ødegaard. He does nothing but hold on to the ball or pass it backwards.”
Emirates fans seem to be starting to lose patience with the Norwegian international, claiming: “The next step in this project is to sell captain Martin Ødegaard.” One fan even demanded: “Sell Ødegaard tomorrow. He is a disgrace to this club.”
The criticism went so far as to call Ødegaard a “fake captain” and the “worst” club has ever had. One fan wrote: “I’m done with Ødegaard. Fake captain,” and another made the bold statement: “Ødegaard is our worst captain ever. Sell him for pennies at this point.”
After getting a short rest break in the midweek game against Inter Milan, it was suggested that Ødegaard is performing like a tired player:
“Captain Ødegaard plays as if he played 90 minutes against Inter. HE DIDN’T. So lethargic, easily pushed off the ball, and drifting and hesitating.”
“Time for a real captain, what about Declan Rice?”
