Arsenal have been heavily criticised throughout the season for not signing the striker that would have propelled the club into the Champions League places but Martin Odegaard is helping to soften the blow.
The Norwegian international has been crucial to Mikel Arteta’s side's improved build-up play this season, which is why the club have the third-highest xG in the league since December 17.
The inability to create chances at the start of the season was a critical problem for the Gunners, who failed to score in each of the opening three games.
However, since Odegaard’s £30m move to the club in August, Arteta’s side have become one of the most creative sides in the league and the Nowegian's creativity has been a key reason for the Gunners finding themselves in an increasingly healthy position to qualify for the Champions League ahead of next season.
According to Opta, Arsenal have created 46.3% of their chances through the middle this season, which is the highest proportion in the Premier League.
This is also a major difference compared to last season when the north London side sat 19th in the league for chances created through the middle at just 32.7%.
Being able to create chances through the middle of the pitch is key because it means being directly in front of goal and naturally having a better chance to convert openings but, more importantly, it means the opposition are also likelier to struggle to contain the attacks due to more variety.
Arsenal struggled to score goals last season and that was because the reliance on the attacking phase of play was placed heavily on the wide positions, which proved easier for the opposition to nullify.
Last season, Kieran Tierney had 4.7 xA (expected assists) and his xA tally was the second-highest in the Gunners squad which, for a left-back, should be seen as disappointing for the other members in the squad.
It also highlighted that if the opposition nullified Tierney’s overlapping threat, then Arsenal would be much weaker on the offensive, which is why the impact of Odegaard should not be underestimated, as he has created a new avenue to attack for Arsenal this season.
Despite the number of chances Odegaard creates, he still only has three assists but that is more down to the lack of clinical finishing from the players who have played in front of him this season, with Alexandre Lacazette being on the end of crucial chances that he should have converted.
Without the impact of Odegaard, the Gunners would not be thriving in the fight for a Champions League spot as they are currently.
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