Paul Scholes takes aim at Arsenal star who he thinks needs to ‘step up’

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Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes, believes Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard needs to take his game to the next level and win tight matches for his side.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has directed his criticism towards Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard after their hard fought draw at Old Trafford. Scholes believes that the Norwegian midfielder needs to elevate his game and become the decisive player in tight contests for the Gunners.

During the match, Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring for Manchester United just before half-time, only for Declan Rice to equalize for Arsenal in the 74th minute. Despite the draw, both teams were left feeling that they could have secured a victory. Arsenal remains second in the Premier League table, trailing leaders Liverpool by 15 points, while Manchester United sits in 14th place.

Scholes, a former England midfielder known for his insightful analysis, expressed his admiration for Odegaard’s technical abilities but emphasized the need for the Arsenal captain to deliver game-changing performances. “Odegaard, again, was an influence on the team, but I think he needs to step up in these types of games, where you might just need the one goal, you might just need that bit of brilliance,” Scholes said. He likened Odegaard to players who regularly win games for their teams, such as Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.

Scholes also highlighted Arsenal’s lack of a prolific striker, which he believes is a key factor in their inability to consistently secure victories. He likened the Gunners to a mid-table Spanish team, praising their attractive style of play but criticizing their lack of cutting edge in front of goal.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shared his frustration with the result, acknowledging that his team lacked the decisive actions needed to secure a win. Despite dominating possession and creating chances, the Gunners were unable to find the back of the net more than once.