BREAKING: Paul Scholes Delivers Blunt Verdict on Martin Ødegaard as Arsenal Captain Faces Fresh Scrutiny
Arsenal News | October 25, 2026
Manchester United Legend Questions Ødegaard’s Positioning as Arsenal’s Attacking Play Comes Under the Spotlight
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has reportedly questioned Martin Ødegaard’s positioning at Arsenal, arguing that the Norwegian international needs to spend more time operating in advanced areas of the pitch.
Scholes, widely respected for his understanding of midfield play, believes that Ødegaard’s technical ability makes him an important player for Arsenal. However, his concern is whether the Arsenal captain sometimes drops too deep, reducing his influence in the areas where his creativity could make the greatest difference.
The comments, reported following Arsenal’s match against Newcastle United in April 2026, have reignited discussion about Ødegaard’s responsibilities in Mikel Arteta’s tactical system.
For Arsenal supporters, the debate raises an important question: should their captain concentrate on connecting midfield with attack, or should he continue dropping deeper to help the team control possession?
Scholes Questions Ødegaard’s Role
Scholes has acknowledged Ødegaard’s technical quality but expressed concern about his positioning during Arsenal’s build-up play.
According to reports of his comments on The Overlap, Scholes argued that the Norwegian sometimes occupies positions that should be reserved for Arsenal’s deeper midfielders.
He believes Ødegaard is most effective when operating between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines, where he can receive the ball, turn quickly, and create opportunities for his teammates.
The former Manchester United star reportedly described Ødegaard as a major tactical concern for Arsenal during that particular period.
However, his criticism was not a dismissal of the midfielder’s ability. Rather, it focused on how Arsenal use one of their most creative players.
Scholes has previously expressed admiration for technically gifted midfielders, and Ødegaard’s vision, passing range, and ability to operate in tight spaces make him a player capable of influencing matches.
The central issue is whether Arsenal are getting the maximum benefit from those qualities.
Why Ødegaard’s Position Matters
The number ten position carries significant responsibilities in modern football.
A player operating in that role must connect the midfield with the forwards, identify spaces between defensive lines, and deliver passes that create scoring opportunities.
When a number ten drops too deep, the team may gain another passing option during the build-up. However, the move can also leave a gap between the midfield and the attack.
That gap can make it difficult for forwards to receive the ball in dangerous positions.
Scholes believes Ødegaard should occupy advanced areas more consistently, allowing him to influence Arsenal’s attacking play closer to the opposition penalty area.
The Norwegian captain has the technical ability to play incisive passes, combine with teammates, and create opportunities through intelligent movement.
His challenge is finding the right balance between helping Arsenal retain possession and remaining available to provide the final pass.
The Bukayo Saka Connection
Another important part of the discussion concerns Ødegaard’s relationship with Bukayo Saka.
The two Arsenal players have developed a strong understanding on the right side of the attack. Ødegaard’s ability to recognize Saka’s movements allows him to deliver passes into dangerous areas, while Saka’s pace and direct running create opportunities for combinations.
Scholes reportedly suggested that Saka’s absence can make Ødegaard’s task more difficult.
Without that familiar attacking partnership, Arsenal may struggle to reproduce some of their usual patterns on the right flank.
This does not mean Ødegaard cannot influence matches without Saka. Instead, it highlights the importance of understanding between teammates.
Arsenal need alternative combinations that allow their captain to remain creative regardless of which players are available.
Other forwards must make intelligent runs, while the midfielders behind Ødegaard need to provide reliable passing options.
If those movements work together, Arsenal can create a more fluid attacking structure.
Arteta’s Tactical Challenge
Mikel Arteta faces an important decision whenever he considers how to organize Arsenal’s midfield.
Ødegaard’s tendency to move deeper may sometimes be part of the team’s tactical instructions rather than an individual decision.
Dropping into space can help Arsenal escape pressure, create passing triangles, and maintain possession against aggressive opponents.
However, the manager must also ensure that sufficient players remain in advanced positions to threaten the opposition defence.
Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi provide different qualities in midfield, including defensive coverage, ball recovery, and distribution.
Their positioning affects the spaces available to Ødegaard.
If all three midfielders occupy similar areas, Arsenal risk overcrowding the centre of the pitch while leaving their forwards isolated.
The solution may involve clearer positional responsibilities, better movement between the lines, and more coordinated attacking runs.
Arteta must decide when Ødegaard should help build attacks and when he should remain higher up the pitch.
Arsenal Need More Creativity in the Final Third
Possession alone does not guarantee goals.
A team can dominate the ball without consistently creating clear scoring opportunities. To overcome well-organized defences, players must move intelligently and recognize when to accelerate an attack.
Ødegaard can contribute by receiving passes in advanced positions, playing through balls, and combining with forwards around the penalty area.
His ability to operate in tight spaces makes him particularly useful when opponents defend with several players behind the ball.
However, the entire attacking structure must support him.
Wingers need to stretch the opposition defence, forwards must create passing lanes, and midfielders must provide the right balance between protection and progression.
When these elements work together, Arsenal become more difficult to defend against.
Scholes’s reported criticism therefore highlights a wider tactical question about the team’s structure rather than simply the performance of one player.
A Captain Under Pressure
As Arsenal captain, Ødegaard carries responsibilities beyond creating chances.
He must help maintain standards, communicate with teammates, and provide leadership during difficult matches.
That role naturally attracts attention when the team struggles to produce its best football.
Nevertheless, criticism of a captain’s performance should not automatically overshadow his contributions.
Ødegaard has demonstrated his ability to influence Arsenal through creativity, movement, and technical quality. His importance to the team depends on how effectively those qualities fit the manager’s tactical approach.
Footballers also experience changes in form, fitness, and confidence throughout a long season.
The most useful response to criticism is to identify areas for improvement while preserving the qualities that make a player valuable.
For Ødegaard, that means finding ways to influence matches consistently without sacrificing his ability to help Arsenal control possession.
What Happens Next?
The debate surrounding Ødegaard’s positioning is unlikely to disappear while Arsenal continue pursuing major honours.
Opponents will look for ways to disrupt the team’s midfield connections, making tactical flexibility increasingly important.
Arteta may need different approaches depending on the opposition, while Ødegaard must recognize when to drop deeper and when to move into attacking spaces.
The captain’s partnership with Saka and the contributions of Arsenal’s other midfielders will also remain important factors.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a system in which every player understands their responsibilities and the team can move the ball forward with greater purpose.
Final Verdict
Paul Scholes’s reported criticism has placed Martin Ødegaard’s positioning at the centre of a wider discussion about Arsenal’s attacking football.
Although Scholes has questioned the Norwegian’s tendency to drop deep, the debate also highlights the tactical demands placed on Arsenal’s captain.
Ødegaard possesses the creativity and technical quality to influence matches, but Arsenal must ensure that he receives the ball in positions where those qualities can have the greatest impact.
For Arteta, the challenge is to maintain midfield control without weakening the connection between the midfield and the forwards.
For Ødegaard, the task is to turn his creativity into consistent attacking influence while continuing to lead his teammates.
The message from the debate is clear: Arsenal need their captain to be involved in the game, but they also need him in the right positions to make a decisive difference.
