The £72m star “wants to go to Arsenal” to beat Odegaard

Last summer, after Liverpool lifted the Premier League, they tried to start the violence that would create the monarchy. It failed, but Arsenal believe they are positioned to lead the pack for years to come.

After years of hard work under Mikel Arteta’s management, Arsenal finally won the trophy last year, but defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League prevented them from winning for the rest of the season.

Arsenal believe they can strengthen their position at the top of the pyramid, but, of course, the ball never goes straight. Things ebb and flow. Arsenal may miss out on the qualification in the coming years, but Arteta doesn’t see that, and instead wants to build a strong base from which the Gunners can beat their rivals for so many years.

The Emirates squad has a strong squad of players, but a few tweaks could make a big difference. There has been much talk of exciting arrivals, but the signing has cost at least one player’s game time, the captain in trouble.

Why Odegaard’s playing time could be in jeopardy

Martin Odegaard has been one of Arsenal’s key players since his arrival from Real Madrid. First on loan, the Norwegian has now played 234 times for the Gunners, scoring 42 goals and providing 46 assists.

Injuries and repeated dips in form have limited the 27-year-old Odegaard, leaving him struggling to produce a pass that separates defenses and add the kind of attacking authority that could take Arsenal to even greater heights.

At times, the 2025/26 campaign belonged to the Gunners, which lacked the sparkle that might have been there had Odegaard been firing at full-back.

There’s no denying that Odegaard has taken a back seat over the past few years, he’s no longer the arbiter of Arsenal’s success, but instead an appendage to a high-flying system.

He may be among the most talented players in the Premier League, but Arsenal will only fill their ranks with players who can prove improvement.

Perhaps that is why Arteta and Berta are eyeing a move for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

Three Lions star Rogers is top of London’s shortlist, with personal terms close to being agreed.

But in fact it would be another arrival that significantly affects Odegaard’s position at the heart of Arteta’s project.

Development of Odegaard “want to stay in London”

Rogers and Odegaard are both attacking midfielders, but they are very different in how they use their attacking skills, with the Norwegian captain a deep-lying, explosive and versatile player on the move.

And with that in mind, Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes could actually be the man to usurp Odegaard this summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano, “there is an agreement on personal terms between Guimaraes and Arsenal”, with the Brazil international expressing his desire to leave St. James’ Park and signed for the Gunners this summer.

An informal offer of £55m has already been withdrawn, but “the player’s desire to stay in London”, according to the transfer official, as “he wants to go to Arsenal”, so “the contract is ready and has never been in doubt”.

Two offers have already been proposed, both rejected by Eddie Howe’s outfit. However, it is now believed that a £72m offer could be accepted for the 28-year-old, who is keen to challenge himself at the highest level as he begins his career.

He is valued at Newcastle, but that only goes so far, and with Guimaraes entering the final year of his contract, there is a feeling the Magpies could give up their prized piece of silverware.

Guimaraes has been a definite star for Newcastle in recent years, paralleling the club’s rise under Howe’s wing. He’s the real deal, well, effectively because he’s so good at everything.

Perhaps the fact that Arsenal are keen to sign both Rogers and Guimaraes this summer underlines the struggle Odegaard faces ahead of him. It is difficult to see how the Norwegian will retain a leading role in the team, if both players sign, and if he fails to kick on.

It seems unlikely that Arsenal will offload Odegaard this summer, but the Norwegian captain has undoubtedly fallen from his previous standards, and with Arsenal lacking that little bit, Guimaraes could be the key to unlocking the hidden levels within Arteta’s project.

It is not that Guimaraes is naturally more intelligent than Odegaard, but rather, he is more complete, a combative midfielder with culture and intelligence and cunning who will enable Rice to handle the ball and create his qualities while stabilizing the central structure and creating a frame where the likes of Rogers can jump from and cause damage in the dangerous area.

Arsenal are in a strong position, and when they are in a strong position, a football team should take advantage. Liverpool tried to do that last summer, but rocked their boat too much.

It’s hard to see Arsenal making the same mistake with such an exciting addition.