Patrick Vieira has criticised Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Martin Odegaard in Arsenal’s crucial 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, labelling the call a ‘big gamble’.
Patrick Vieira: Starting Half-Fit Odegaard Against Man City Was a ‘Big Gamble’
The Arsenal legend raised his concerns before kick-off on Sky Sports, pointing out that the Norwegian captain had only recently returned from injury and lacked match fitness.
Odegaard missed the Gunners’ midweek Champions League clash with a muscle problem, having previously recovered from a separate knee issue.
Despite this, Arteta restored him to the starting XI at the Etihad, handing back the captain’s armband from Declan Rice.
The decision backfired. Odegaard looked off the pace for much of the title showdown and failed to make any meaningful impact as a passenger in midfield.
“I don’t know if it’s a gamble or not, but I believe he did enough in training to show the manager he deserved to start,” Vieira said.
“But for big games like this, I personally believe it can be a big gamble.
“They will need a lot of intensity because they will run a lot behind the ball.
You need to be really good on the ball and he hasn’t started a game for quite a while. I’m just scared that will be too much for him today.”
Vieira’s fears proved justified as Arsenal struggled to gain control in midfield.
Rayan Cherki opened the scoring for City with a moment of brilliance before Gianluigi Donnarumma gifted Kai Havertz an equaliser.
However, Erling Haaland restored City’s lead in the 65th minute, and Pep Guardiola’s side held on to move within three points of the league leaders with a game in hand.
Micah Richards also questioned Arteta’s setup, suggesting that moving Eberechi Eze out to the left flank to accommodate Odegaard limited the midfielder’s influence.
Richards prefers Eze in the central ‘maverick’ role, adding that Arsenal’s early-season defensive issues arose when Eze failed to track back from wider positions.
The defeat leaves Arsenal’s title hopes hanging by a thread, with Arteta now facing scrutiny over his risky team selection.
