Darren Bent has listed the form of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard as one of the main reasons the Gunners look set to fall short in another Premier League title race.
Arsenal have 12 games to make up an 11-point deficit on Liverpool following a huge weekend at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners could have moved to within just five points of their title rivals on Saturday but lost 1-0 at home to West Ham, producing a performance that Mikel Arteta admitted was simply not good enough for a title-chasing team.
Liverpool capitalised on Arsenal’s shock defeat later in the weekend, comfortably beating Manchester City 2-0 to move even further clear in the title race under Jurgen Klopp’s successor Arne Slot.
Arsenal have finished second for two years in a row behind Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking Man City side and while they are on course for the same league position this season, they have not reached the same levels, dropping points in 11 games so far.
Bent was asked by talkSPORT to list the five main reasons Arsenal have fallen short in the title race and said Odegaard’s underwhelming form was a significant factor.
Odegaard was one of the most influential players in the Premier League over the past three seasons but has been less effective this term with just two league goals.
His form was hampered by an injury that ruled him out for over two months earlier in the campaign but Bent has been disappointed with Odegaard’s form ever since his lay-off.
Discussing some of the reasons Arsenal are struggling to keep pace with Liverpool, Bent said: ‘Martin Odegaard’s form.
‘He was appalling against West Ham. He hasn’t been good since coming back from injury.
Darren Bent's reasons Arsenal have fallen short
- Mentality
- Discipline
- Injuries
- Martin Odegaard’s form
- Failing to sign a striker
‘He had a little flirt where he looked like he might be back but two Premier League goals this season, three in total.
‘His performances haven’t been good enough. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a wonderful footballer but there’s too much flicks and these little scoop passes, just shoot!’
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Arteta insisted Arsenal would not stop fighting to become Premier League champions.
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Asked if he would concede the title, Arteta said: ‘Over my dead body. If not I will go home.
‘Mathematically it is possible. Three days ago we could close a gap and you are like “you are one-and-a-half games away”.
‘The difficulty is higher than three days ago but if you are going to win the Premier League you have to do something special.
‘If you are going to win the Premier League with the circumstances we have you will probably have to do something that nobody else has done in the history of the Premier League.’
Arsenal travel to the City Ground on Wednesday night to take on high-flying Nottingham Forest, while Premier League leaders Liverpool face Newcastle United.
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