Odegaard theory emerges as secret Arsenal tactic spotted on Match of the Day

22 January 2024 , 00:00

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Odegaard theory emerges as secret Arsenal tactic spotted on Match of the Day

Arsenal affirmed their status as the Premier League's set-piece kings on Saturday, as the Gunners scored from another two against Crystal Palace.

Mikel Arteta's title chasers ran out 5-0 winners, with their first two goals coming from corners - one headed in by Gabriel Magalhaes and the other going down as a Dean Henderson own goal - meaning that Arsenal have scored the most set-piece goals this top-flight season. Eight different players registered a goal or assist, but not captain Martin Odegaard.

However, Match of the Day pundit Ashley Williams reckons that the Norwegian midfielder played a major role in their two opening strikes, not by using his feet, but with his socks. Williams explained on Saturday's episode of MOTD: "There's always a trigger for what the movement's going to be, and we can see they have worked on whether it's a front-post corner or a back-post corner.

"If you keep an eye on Odegaard, we feel - maybe we've had too much time on our hands - but we feel that maybe he's signalling something to the corner taker. He's in the same place for every corner and he's playing with his socks. The reason we're looking for a trigger is because [these things] are worked on."

The former Swansea and Everton defender, who was alongside Alan Shearer, added: "There is synchronicity regarded whether they go to the front or the back. Every clip we see here he is doing the same thing where he's playing with his socks. It might be coincidence, yes.

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"This one's interesting because it's actually a front-post and he does a different thing with his socks, so I understand we might be reaching for something that isn't there, but it is a big coincidence that he's always there and always doing something with his sock. I think [Arsenal's set-piece coach] Nicolas Jover has said, 'We have signals on what set-piece we're doing'."

Your turn! Do you believe the theory on Martin Odegaard? Join the debate in the comments section.

Martin Odegaard regularly adjusts his socks when Arsenal take corners (BBC Match of the Day)

The Gunners won't be confirming Williams' theory if they have any wits about them, although they're happy to heap praise on Jover. "We do a lot of work on set-pieces," Bukayo Saka explained to TNT Sports. "Nico, our set-piece coach, does a really good job though, he tries to make it fun and he's enjoying it. What he's doing is clearly working so we'll have to continue doing it."

Nathan Ridley