Mikel Arteta needs to understand that the £30m Arsenal player, who lost possession 13 times against PSG, is not the player he believes him to be.

Mikel Arteta will be reflecting on Arsenal’s missed opportunities against Paris Saint-Germain after a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. Despite Gianluigi Donnarumma’s outstanding saves, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard had chances to put Arsenal ahead.

Arteta will likely be questioning why the Gunners couldn’t capitalize on their dominance and secure at least a draw. The match highlighted the gap between Arsenal and PSG, two of Europe’s best teams.

A key concern for Arteta is Martin Ødegaard’s quiet performance. The Arsenal captain, although a skilled player, failed to influence the game and has had an underwhelming season. Ødegaard was expected to be a game-changer, similar to other stars like Jamal Musiala and Bruno Fernandes. However, his strength lies in controlling the game’s tempo and linking attacks, not delivering consistent match-winning moments.

Ødegaard’s statistics against PSG were telling—only one key pass, 13 possessions lost, and just one successful dribble. His underperformance raises questions about whether he is the player Arsenal need. Although he had a standout 2022/2023 season, scoring 15 goals in the Premier League, he’s yet to replicate that form.

Arsenal may need to upgrade from Ødegaard if they’re to compete with top sides like PSG. Players like Florian Wirtz or Xavi Simons could provide the quality and consistency Arsenal requires in the attacking midfield role. Without such reinforcements, Arsenal risks remaining on the fringes of European and domestic glory.