Arsenal and Man City have made same fatal mistake to give Liverpool title race advantage

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has said that a big part of Arsenal’s stuttering form could be put down to the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, and their over-reliance on the playmaker potentially being their downfall in the title race.

Arsenal are winless in their last four Premier League games. In their last outing, they were pegged back after taking the lead against Chelsea with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.

That game did have one big positive in the return of Odegaard. The Norway international had missed the previous seven Premier League games with an ankle injury.

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Speaking via AceOdds , Smith has outlined the impact that the captain’s absence has had. He pointed to Man City, who have lost their last four games in all competitions, as an example of the difference one player can make.

“Obviously, people mention Odegaard and you're going to miss somebody like him,” he said on Arsenal’s stuttering form,” he said. “I did the Bournemouth game when Saliba got sent off and even 11 vs 11, Arsenal were struggling to create much.

“It was a tight game. Obviously, when it is tight, compact defences, Odegaard is the man. He comes into his own. He wants the ball and he can see passes that others can't. He can make things happen.

“But we said a couple of seasons ago when Saliba was injured, you can't be depending on one player and that is true. That's the hard thing, getting a squad strong enough to cope with the loss of people like Odegaard.

“City, at the moment, you could argue are suffering because of no Rodri. Even they are fallible. Once you look on, they lost at Bournemouth and then, you just lose a little bit of momentum and things go against you. It can happen, but we've got to bounce back.”

Odegaard’s return saw him play the full 90 minutes of the match against Chelsea. The midfielder has withdrawn from the Norway squad as he continues his return to full fitness, that will be a big boost, according to Smith.

“He showed his fitness levels at Chelsea by playing for so long,” he added. “He’s only really just started training again. If he can reach the levels he's capable of, I don't see why he wouldn't, he's a great professional, then that is going to give the team so much more and it would lift the whole dressing room if he can get back to form quickly. Hopefully he can.”

“I do think they've got it in them. There is resilience at Arsenal these days, I think. There's a good determination there. It's a good dressing room, I think, and they've got plenty of - I don't think they lack for leaders these days. Look at the boys at the back, Declan Rice, and Odegaard leads by example.”

Arsenal currently sit in fourth place in the table, nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool. The gap has led to some already writing off their title hopes, but Smith is not at that point yet.

“I do think they've got it in them,” he said. “There is resilience at Arsenal these days, I think. There's a good determination there. It's a good dressing room, I think, and they've got plenty of - I don't think they lack for leaders these days. Look at the boys at the back, Declan Rice, and Odegaard leads by example.

I think they can [still win the title] but things need to go their way. Once the international breaks over with Arsenal have got to go on a run and get back to playing how they can and they did for most of last season and knocking in the goals.”