‘It’s not enough’ – Arsenal star slammed for ‘simple’ performance against PSG
Mikel Arteta consoled Martin Odegaard at full-time (Picture: Getty) Frank Leboeuf said Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard left much to be desired with his performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final second leg. Arsenal need to mount a comeback in Paris after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates last week. But Mikel Arteta’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes as PSG booked their spot in the final, where they will face Inter Milan. The Gunners started brightly in the second leg, with Odegaard’s effort from the edge of the box saved superbly by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Luis Enrique’s side slowly worked their way into the encounter, and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi either side of half-time swung the game decisively in PSG’s favour. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Bukayo Saka’s goal offered late hope, but Arsenal could not summon a dramatic turnaround to salvage their European hopes. Despite their positive start to the second leg, Arsenal appeared rather toothless as the game went on, with Leboeuf, in particular, lamenting Odegaard’s lack of creativty in the middle of the park. Odegaard’s performance has come in for criticism (Picture: Getty) ‘It’s crazy because you don’t want to criticise him,’ the former Chelsea defender told ESPN. ‘We have the tendency to forgive everything that he says because he’s clean; he’s a proper clean player with a nice haircut, with a moustache and an elegant style. ‘He’s a good guy and you want to be with him, but if you have to analyse everything he does – it’s too obvious, it’s too simple. Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Odegaard with a great early save (Picture: Getty) Leboeuf continued: ‘There’s no risk, he doesn’t think ‘I’m going to try that pass, and it might not be successful but I’m going to try because if it does work it’s going to create something different’. ‘He’s too clean, far too clean. In modern football, it’s okay, but it’s not enough, it’s really not enough.’ ‘Another player is (Dennis) Bergkamp – he was capable of taking risks and trying things only a few people on the field would be able to do. That is what Odegaard is lacking.’ Arsenal fell short of a first Champions League final since 2006 (Picture: Getty) Odegaard has endured a lean spell since returning from an injury midway through the season, scoring just four times in all competitions since the turn of the year. And speaking after his side’s defeat, the Norwegian acknowledged that his side were once again lacking a clinical edge in the opponent’s box. ‘It’s very painful to be honest,’ Odegaard said. ‘I think we started the game really well, on the front foot, took control of the game and created some big moments. ‘But again, in the boxes, that’s where the games are decided and we weren’t good enough. Also a lot of credit to their goalkeeper who made some unbelievable saves. ‘We did a lot of good things, but in the end, we have to be better in the boxes. That’s where we have to be sharper and more clinical and also not concede the goals like we’ve done.’ Arteta was also left frustrated with his side’s missed chances, telling TNT Sports: ‘After 20 minutes it should have been 3-0. There is something extra you need to go your way in the competition and it didn’t. ‘We were very close and for long periods of both games we were much better than them but we are not there and that has to hurt.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Frank Leboeuf said Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard left much to be desired with his performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
Arsenal need to mount a comeback in Paris after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates last week.
But Mikel Arteta’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes as PSG booked their spot in the final, where they will face Inter Milan.
The Gunners started brightly in the second leg, with Odegaard’s effort from the edge of the box saved superbly by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Luis Enrique’s side slowly worked their way into the encounter, and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi either side of half-time swung the game decisively in PSG’s favour.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Bukayo Saka’s goal offered late hope, but Arsenal could not summon a dramatic turnaround to salvage their European hopes.
Despite their positive start to the second leg, Arsenal appeared rather toothless as the game went on, with Leboeuf, in particular, lamenting Odegaard’s lack of creativty in the middle of the park.
‘It’s crazy because you don’t want to criticise him,’ the former Chelsea defender told ESPN.
‘We have the tendency to forgive everything that he says because he’s clean; he’s a proper clean player with a nice haircut, with a moustache and an elegant style.
‘He’s a good guy and you want to be with him, but if you have to analyse everything he does – it’s too obvious, it’s too simple.
Leboeuf continued: ‘There’s no risk, he doesn’t think ‘I’m going to try that pass, and it might not be successful but I’m going to try because if it does work it’s going to create something different’.
‘He’s too clean, far too clean. In modern football, it’s okay, but it’s not enough, it’s really not enough.’
‘Another player is (Dennis) Bergkamp – he was capable of taking risks and trying things only a few people on the field would be able to do. That is what Odegaard is lacking.’
Odegaard has endured a lean spell since returning from an injury midway through the season, scoring just four times in all competitions since the turn of the year.
And speaking after his side’s defeat, the Norwegian acknowledged that his side were once again lacking a clinical edge in the opponent’s box.
‘It’s very painful to be honest,’ Odegaard said. ‘I think we started the game really well, on the front foot, took control of the game and created some big moments.
‘But again, in the boxes, that’s where the games are decided and we weren’t good enough. Also a lot of credit to their goalkeeper who made some unbelievable saves.
‘We did a lot of good things, but in the end, we have to be better in the boxes. That’s where we have to be sharper and more clinical and also not concede the goals like we’ve done.’
Arteta was also left frustrated with his side’s missed chances, telling TNT Sports: ‘After 20 minutes it should have been 3-0. There is something extra you need to go your way in the competition and it didn’t.
‘We were very close and for long periods of both games we were much better than them but we are not there and that has to hurt.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
