Keane Dismisses Odegaard as Arsenal Scout Future Replacements

Roy Keane has taken aim at Martin Odegaard's performance in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, suggesting the Gunners captain lacks the cutting edge needed against elite opposition.

The Arsenal number 10 returned to the starting XI after a two-game absence through injury, registering four key passes and frequently dropping deep to orchestrate play. Yet for all his neat, measured contribution, Keane reckoned it simply wasn't enough when the stakes were highest.

"I still don't think Odegaard is enough," Keane said during discussion of how Arsenal might have approached the Etihad clash differently. "He's neat and tidy and he's good but…" The former Manchester United midfielder's assessment echoed journalist Henry Winter's observation that Odegaard "embodies Arsenal's nice, neat football but doesn't hurt elite opponents enough."

With Man City moving clear at the summit after a 1-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday—a result that sees Arsenal now second on goal difference—the pressure on Mikel Arteta's side intensifies. The 27-year-old Odegaard remains contracted until summer 2028, yet Arsenal's hierarchy is already plotting contingencies.

Sporting director Andrea Berta has begun identifying potential successors, with Real Madrid's Arda Guler emerging as a primary target. The Turkish attacking midfielder, who can also operate on either flank, is understood to have already been approached by the Gunners.

In parallel, Arsenal have tabled a €40million (£35m) offer for Bayer Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza, though the Bundesliga outfit has rejected the bid. The Algerian has been deployed primarily as an attacking midfielder this season and has also attracted interest from Manchester City. Berta's strategic planning suggests the club is preparing for potential changes in their creative department, regardless of Odegaard's current standing.