Arsenal star gives stance on Gunners exit after being told to leave for two reasons

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has “no plans” to leave the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window, according to reports.

The Norway international was previously one of the Gunners’ most consistent players, but his influence in Mikel Arteta’s side has waned this season.

Odegaard started less than half of ArsenalThis season’s Premier League fixtures with injuries and poor form have led Arteta to look to other options.

The Arsenal midfielder has scored just once in 27 appearances in all competitions and has provided six assists as the Gunners challenge on all fronts this season.

Last week, ESPN Pundits Steve Nicol and Frank Leboeuf have told Odegaard to leave Arsenal this summer with Eberechi Eze potentially his replacement.

Nicol said ESPN: “Odegaard could leave Arsenal. If you are him, the club captain and 18 months ago you were the guy.

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“All of a sudden – and I know he’s had a few injuries – but there are question marks as to whether he’s actually starting because of Eze.

“And maybe because of the way he plays, someone else could also get ahead of him. So if you’re Martin Odegaard, do you stick around? I don’t think that’s the case.”

Leboeuf added: “I agree, I agree. I always liked Martin Odegaard and his way of playing because he is very elegant, but he no longer has influence.

“He is there to initiate the action, to distribute the ball horizontally. But with Eze at the moment, the movements are not the same, he is more vertical, more influential and he will also help (Viktor) Gyokeres.

“So it will be a difficult time for Odegaard and he will have to make a very good choice, a big choice, at the end of the season.”

And now Football.London claims Odegaard “has no plans to leave Arsenal this summer and remains a vital part” of the team Arteta built.

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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has previously explained why he thinks Odegaard ‘kills’ Viktor Gyokeres when they play together.

Scholes said on the Stick to Football Podcast: “Odegaard could be the problem. Odegaard wants to play as a number 10 and if you don’t play good football, it’s his job to make your team play good football. Good attacking football. I don’t think he does that.

“He drops to midfield. Look, I like him, technically he’s bright and good to watch. But he drops to midfield. I played number 10, if they come into the midfield area and play where Roy (Keane) should be, he’d say ‘f*** off’, get up there. He doesn’t do it enough in the areas where he wins games.”

Scholes added: “You think about the teams we’ve seen win the league like Liverpool and Man City, it’s exciting to watch.

“They are exciting because of people like David Silva, Phil Foden who receive the ball on the edge of the box where it matters. It also kills the center forward (Viktor Gyokeres) who he has no one to play with. They are imperative for your team to play good football.”