Arsenal have dropped points in their last three Premier League matches, sparking fears that Mikel Arteta’s side won’t covert their lead at the top of the table into a title win
Arsenal legend Alan Smith has suggested that it’s time for Mikel Arteta to drop Martin Odegaard and give Eberechi Eze a run of games. Odegaard, 27, was hauled off less than an hour into Sunday’s bruising 3-2 defeat at home to Manchester United.
The Norwegian set up the opening goal for Arsenal but was largely ineffective, as he and his team-mates missed the chance to restore their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Odegaard’s sub-par form has alarm bells ringing among the Arsenal fan base, as he’s only contributed to three goals in as many months.
Those all came in a short burst at the turn of the year. Meanwhile, the Gunners haven’t won any of their last three Premier League games, winning just once in 2026 so far.
That’s why Smith believes that it’s time for Arteta to make some changes. “I think Arteta might just need to tweak his system a little bit and change some personnel perhaps,” the former Arsenal striker told Sky Sports.
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“Perhaps it’s time now to give Eze an extended run in the team instead of Odegaard, who has struggled a little bit, so I’m sure Arteta will be thinking about that going into the weekend and what he should do maybe to freshen things up a little bit.”
Summer signing Eze hasn’t started a Premier League game since mid-December and Saturday’s clash with Leeds would be his next opportunity. The Gunners first play Kazakhstani side Kairat in the Champions League on Wednesday before the trip to Elland Road.
“They’ve got to bounce back, there’s no doubt about that,” Smith added. “Leeds and then Sunderland at home. Leeds played really well last night [against Everton on Monday], in the first half particularly. The tide turned in the second half but they’ve got plenty going for them.
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“That’s going to be a tough one in front of those Elland Road fans but if you’re going to win the league you’ve got to be able to go to places like that and get the win really, particularly after the run of results they’ve had, being far from ideal. They need to get back on the horse and start winning games again.”
Asked if he still thinks that Arsenal will win the Premier League title, Smith replied: “Yeah, I think so. I’ve got to go with the Gunners. It would be a major fall from grace if they didn’t win at this point.
“They’ve got the best squad in the league, there’s no doubt about that. So yeah, I think they will get themselves together.”
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