Ødegaard scored both 1- and 2-0 for Arsenal during the first half, and the goals came in almost identical fashion: Two passes from Granit Xhaka out on the left found their way to Ødegaard’s precise left foot. On the 1-0 score, he hammered the ball in via the crossbar, while the number two was placed in the far corner in a controlled manner. “Nice scoring, but Arsenal notice early on that Chelsea’s right side is completely covered in snow,” says national team manager Ståle Solbakken about the 1-0 goal. Photo: DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters – It’s an absolutely fantastic shot He gets both power and screw and it’s a beautiful finish, says former Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to the BBC about Ødegaard’s 1-0 score. Ødegaard is now up to 14 Premier League goals this season, and his two goals have laid the foundation for what is at the time of writing a comfortable 3-1 lead for “The Gunners”. Gabriel Jesus scored Arsenal’s third. Noni Madueke reduced after the break. Response to charges Arsenal look set to return to winning ways – and top of the table – after four games without a win. During the tough period, where they gave up the initiative in the golden game, several people have questioned this Arsenal team. And the team’s captain, Martin Ødegaard. CELEBRATED: Martin Ødegaard has 14 league goals this season. Only one Arsenal midfielder has had a more goalscoring season: Cesc Fabregas in 2009/10. Photo: BEN STANSALL / AFP Gary Neville was among those who were critical. – I look at Martin Ødegaard, a fantastic professional, but when you are under pressure, in the very biggest games, at a decisive stage in the season, is he a leader then?, asked Neville in his podcast “The Overlap”. – I don’t feel that they affected the other players on the pitch. Instead, I think they contributed to the problems the team got into, he added. The former Manchester United defender gave Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka the same type of criticism. CRITICAL: Gary Neville, who is now a football pundit for Sky Sports. Photo: DAVID KLEIN / Reuters Arsenal have conceded points against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton in recent weeks, and have also been beaten by Manchester City, who are now in the driver’s seat in the hunt for league gold. – Neville misses National team manager, Ståle Solbakken, did not participate in the criticism from Neville when he visited Viaplay’s studio on Wednesday evening. – He had an “off day” at the Etihad, perhaps his weakest game of the season, but in a team that was completely overrun. Martin is the player who has stood out the most in the games they have struggled, it is proven by the number of scores, assists and touches inside the opponent’s half of the pitch, so Neville misses a bit, he said before the match. But hope lives on for Ødegaard & co. They are now back at the top of the table, two points ahead of Manchester City, who admittedly have two games to spare. This means that Manchester City have everything in their own hands and Arsenal are dependent on Erling Braut Haaland to stop scoring to order. Chelsea are slaughtered – Chelsea have been a total disaster. We’re not going to take anything away from Arsenal, but this is some of the worst, most sexless, parodic defensive play and organization I’ve seen by a team with X number of players in a team that will actually be fighting for a place in the Champions League. It is completely rotten on all parameters, says Solbakken. That was the harsh verdict from Ståle Solbakken on Chelsea after the first half. “Painful to watch,” added the national team manager. GET STROKE: Frank Lampard has not had a happy reunion with Chelsea. Photo: MATTHEW CHILDS / Reuters And he is far from the only one shaking his head at Chelsea after their opening 45 minutes against Arsenal. – This is getting embarrassing for Chelsea. It is difficult to understand how a team that actually has quite a few good players can be as bad as Chelsea has been here, says BBC journalist Phil McNulty. According to British media, Chelsea fans have already started to leave the stadium. Arsenal fans are enjoying themselves at the expense of their London rivals and singing songs that they are going to be relegated. The club’s new owners have spent around eight billion kroner after buying the club last year. – Chelsea are a disgrace out there, Gary Neville tweets. – No matter how good Arsenal have been, my God, Chelsea are one big mess at the moment, writes Gary Lineker. Chelsea are currently in 12th place in the league and are heading for their sixth straight defeat since Frank Lampard took over.
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Ødegaard show after the criticism – Solbakken totally slaughters Chelsea – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
