Arsenal’s Premier League title celebrations are barely a month old, but already the club faces a dilemma that could reshape Mikel Arteta’s squad. Paul Merson, the former Gunners midfielder, has floated a theory that would have seemed unthinkable during the run to glory: selling captain Martin Odegaard.
“It’s madness for me to be saying this but they probably will be thinking about that,” Merson told The Sports Agents. “But for me, I still think there’ll be teams queuing round the block for him… When you play in the position that Odegaard plays in, you’re screaming out for pace up front. You have to have pace.”
“Paul Merson suggests Arsenal may sell captain Martin Odegaard, while Morgan Rogers's response to Man Utd interest is bad news for the Gunners.”
The Norwegian, 27, has been the fulcrum of Arteta’s side since arriving in 2021, skippering Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years and a Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Yet injuries limited him to 30 games missed this season, and even when fit he faced competition from Eberechi Eze. The emergence of teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly as a midfield option has added further pressure on the captain’s place.
With Odegaard entering the final year of his contract and earning £240,000 a week, Merson’s logic is financial as well as tactical. Selling now, rather than awarding a new long-term deal, may prove more prudent.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s hopes of strengthening in attack have hit a setback. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has already responded to interest from Manchester United, and the news is not good for the Gunners. The 23-year-old, expected to be at the centre of a transfer tussle this summer, appears to have indicated a preference that leaves Arsenal frustrated. No further details of his response have emerged, but the message is clear: Arsenal face a fight to land one of their targets as the summer window heats up.