In a staunch defense of Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, former Arsenal Defender Bacary Sagna has come forward to support the Norwegian international amid recent criticism of his performance for the Gunners.
Sagna, known for his unwavering loyalty to the club, firmly believes that Odegaard will overcome his underwhelming start and make a significant impact this season.
During the previous Premier League season, Odegaard emerged as one of Arsenal’s standout players, having scored an impressive 15 goals and provided 8 assists under the guidance of Mikel Arteta.
However, his recent display drew harsh criticism from former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit, who described it as “his worst in an Arsenal shirt” following the 2-2 draw against Chelsea.
Yet Sagna, known for his insightful comments on the beautiful game, emphasizes that it is only natural for a player of Odegaard’s caliber to experience fluctuations in performance.
“This is the nature of football. Players are bound to face criticism, and people will always have their opinions,” Sagna candidly expressed during an interview with Genting Casino.
“It is our human nature to question why a player who has demonstrated brilliance in the past is currently facing challenges. However, if we consider Odegaard’s overall contribution in his last 100 games for Arsenal, we would recognize that in 95 of those matches, he truly excelled.”
“Allowing for a few off days is natural for any player. At present, Odegaard might not be displaying his optimum performance, but this should be seen within the larger context of his remarkable accomplishments throughout his time at Arsenal.”
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