Arteta Told to Drop Arsenal Star After Manchester United Defeat

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard criticised after Man United loss as Mikel Arteta faces growing calls to rotate his underperforming attack.

Former England striker Darren Bent has urged Mikel Arteta to make a bold call by dropping Martin Odegaard after Man United defeat, claiming the Arsenal captain offered little in the 3–2 loss at the Emirates Stadium. The result narrowed Arsenal’s Premier League lead to four points and intensified scrutiny on the Gunners’ attacking form.

Arsenal looked on course for another important league win after taking the lead through a Lisandro Martinez own goal, but defensive lapses and missed chances allowed Manchester United back into the contest. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha sealed a dramatic away victory for United under Michael Carrick.

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Despite a late equaliser from Mikel Merino, Arsenal failed to regain control of the match, marking their first home league defeat of the campaign and raising concerns over their momentum in the title race.

Darren Bent calls out Odegaard’s performance

Speaking on talkSPORT, Bent was blunt in his assessment of Odegaard’s display.
“Next weekend in the Premier League, Odegaard out. Out,” Bent said. “He’s offering nothing. Give Eberechi Eze four or five games.”

Odegaard, who was substituted in the 58th minute, struggled to influence proceedings and failed to unlock United’s defence. Bent believes Eze deserves a sustained run in the side after making positive impacts off the bench earlier this season.

The criticism marks a sharp contrast to Odegaard’s recent seasons, where he was a standout performer and earned consecutive PFA Team of the Year selections. Injury issues and inconsistent form have limited the 27-year-old to just one league goal and three assists so far this season.

Bent also suggested that no Arsenal attacker should feel secure, questioning the recent output of Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard, all of whom have struggled for consistency in recent weeks.

Arteta under pressure as rotation debate grows

Arteta defended his side’s effort after the match but admitted improvements are needed mentally and tactically. With Arsenal already qualified for the Champions League knockout stages, rotation could come in the upcoming fixture against Kairat.

The debate around Martin Odegaard after Man United defeat highlights wider concerns about Arsenal’s attacking fluency. As the title race tightens, Arteta’s selection calls could prove decisive in the weeks ahead.

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