Odegaard, Saka inspire Arsenal at West Ham as the Gunners record convincing away win
Arsenal, yet again, cruise to away 2-5 win over their London Rivals, West Ham United, at the London Stadium over the weekend.
The Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka contributed four of the five goals scored in the game.
If Arsenal were able to stage a late challenge for the EPL title this campaign, the pair in Saka and Odegaard must be fit because recent loss and abysmal performances of Arsenal in their absence highlights how important are the two to Arsenal’s project.
Arsenal showed class and fluidity during the first twenty-fifth minute into the game, as they put West Ham players through the knife.
Saka and Odegaard combined so well in the game to resuscitate Arsenal’s title bid.
The duo played to set up the second goal shortly after West Ham United had their first goal, through Crysencio Summerville, ruled out for offside.
Odegaard played through ball towards Saka’s path as the England winger chipped a square pass to Leandro Trossard who had no other option than to tap home from close range.
Odegaard and Saka’s on-pitch cohesion is so sweet that the pair also exchange penalty duties.
During the weekend’s match against West Ham, Arsenal recorded their first-ever two first-half penalties in a single Premier League match.
Saka said during the post-match media brief, “He asked me for the ball – he wanted to score.
He gives me a lot of balls so it is nice to return that to him.”
If Arsenal were to hunt table-toppers, Liverpool, down, then Saka and Odegaard would be needed to keep fit because Arsenal’s disappointing results in their absence depict how pivotal are the pair to the team.
The woeful and wasteful display of Arsenal at Bournemouth without Odegaard and Saka must not repeat itself if they were to have a chance of catching up on Liverpool.
The game against the Cherries was the worst of Arsenal’s games when Odegaard was absent through ankle injury.
Since his return to fitness in three matches now, the Arsenal skipper has scored one goal and assisted another, and this highlights how influential he is to the success of the team.
According to Chris Sutton, “I just wonder, has Martin Odegaard been as big a miss to Arsenal as Rodri to Manchester City?”
“Arsenal are growing on me. With Martin Odegaard back, they are a different team.”
Statistics About Saka And Odegaard With Team
Arsenal have not been defeated, since April, in a Premier League match when Odegaard is involved.
Statistics has also revealed that even as Saka has played double the minutes played by Odegaard, so as his records with the team also double those of the Arsenal skipper.
No defeat for Arsenal in the EPL games which involved Odegaard this season. In 499 minutes this season, he provided one goal, two assists, three shots and created additional four chances.
But Saka’s stats in 981 minutes shows that he has netted five goals, provided ten assists, fired forty shots and created thirty-six chances.
Going by the stats, it is easy to suggest that Saka, however, remains the unsung.
The Arsenal pattern of play usually is instigated by Odegaard who feeds Saka. Saka feeds the rest of the team – Saka gets the colourful stats.
Stats shows that Odegaard completed most passes in the game (27). Also, that the duo pass to each other more than any other pair on Arsenal team against West Ham, with Saka the second highest (24).
It could all be seen at the London Stadium where Saka created four chances.
Odegaard one, with Saka having nine touches in the West Ham box. Odegaard only touch in the West Ham box was during the penalty.
According to Jamie Redknapp, “Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard linked up beautifully at times.
They looked like the side we’ve seen over the last couple of years.”
“It just shows everybody what Odegaard does for this team – he knits it together. He is the glue in the team. He is an absolute joy to watch and you see how much better they are with him.
“He frees Saka up and gives him that time in one-on-one situations that you can’t really have unless Odegaard is playing.”
Redknapp’s assertion does not really mean to say that Saka’s ability to create chances and score goals depends on Odegaard.
The winger, who does look agile after his disappointing EURO 2024. Where he had a pivotal role in England’s European Championship campaign, remains in the form of his life.
Bukayo Saka, whose last goal through a penalty made it 5-2 at West Ham. He scored his first away EPL goal of the season.
He has now been directly involve in fifteen Premier League goals. Saka is only second to Mohammed Salah who is on sixteen, this season.
While commenting on Saka’s attacking numbers, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said during post-match media conference. “This is the hardest thing to do in football – to impact the score line in that way.”
Statistics has had it that Only Harry Kane, Cesc Fabregas and Mesut Ozil have managed to double Saka’s figure. They are still not able to in fewer matches. Compared to his in one Premier League campaign.
The winger’s toughness cannot be taken out of the equation. As he received a booking following his first-half on-field clash with West Ham left-back Emerson. Also altercation with centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
However, Saka and Odegaard cohesion endured to the seventy-fourth minute on Saturday as the duo were substituted, mission accomplished.
“Today was a top performance from us. The team scored a lot of goals,” Saka said during the Match of the day media conference.
“We are playing good football right now and we want to continue like this.
“We are back to our best form – we look fluid and dynamic. We are all enjoying football right now.”
Arsenal’s only challenge and focus will be to catch Liverpool which sit pretty nine-point clear off the EPL table.
If Arsenal will have any chance, they may just have to wait for Liverpool to slip. Then capitalise on it.
According to Chris Sutton on BBC radio 5 Live: “With Arsenal now it looks like they’re hitting form. Good for them – title race on.”
If eventually Arsenal lifted the EPL trophy come may. It would be the dynamism and symbiosm of Saka and Odegaard that made it happen.
Odegaard, Saka Inspire Arsenal At West Ham
