Arsenal need Odegaard and Martinelli to find a higher level for PSG second leg

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will use the “rage, anger and frustration” of their recent poor form to turn around their Champions League semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain. There is indeed plenty for the Gunners to be exasperated about. Their season is slipping through their fingers.

It would also help if Arsenal’s best players turned up.

Martin Odegaard, for one, hasn’t been the same player since returning from injury earlier this season. The Norwegian is currently playing within himself, which is a problem considering he is Arsenal’s captain and chief creator in the centre of the pitch. Without Odegaard in top form, the Gunners can be predictable in the final third.

Even when Arsenal did create openings in the first leg against PSG last week, they spurned them. Gabriel Martinelli was guiltier than most for this, shooting straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma when he could have equalised for the home side minutes into the second half. It was a key moment in the match that could have swung momentum in Arsenal’s favour.

Martinelli found the back of the net in the impressive away win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, but the Brazilian winger too often makes the wrong decision when it matters most in front of goal. This is where he and Odegaard must find a higher level to give Arsenal a chance of making the final.

PSG might be the most complete team in European soccer right now. They have made strides under Luis Enrique, who wants the French giants to control all aspects of the game, in and out of possession. There were times during the first leg when Arsenal simply couldn’t get out of their own half.

However, Aston Villa showed the way to hurt PSG by pushing the Ligue 1 outfit all the way in the previous round. Unai Emery set up his side to be bold in playing through the PSG press. When they got into the attacking third, they did so quickly. Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers and John McGinn all caused damage.

If Arsenal can learn lessons from their Premier League rivals, they could put up a fight at the Parc des Princes. If not, they will suffer the same issues that stopped them from winning the first leg. PSG will control the match with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue capable of deciding a game at any moment.

Saturday’s home defeat to Bournemouth did little to suggest Arsenal have it in them to turn around the semi-final tie. After taking the lead through Declan Rice, the Gunners collapsed and were once again weak from set pieces. The general lack of energy and intensity was, however, the most concerning thing.

“We certainly wanted to create a really good vibe, a positive result would really help us to build what we wanted towards Wednesday,” Arteta said after the loss. “What we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy. So, make sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a massive performance in Paris, win the game and be in the final.”

Arsenal find themselves at a critical juncture in their development under Arteta. For the last three seasons, the Gunners have continually improved. This season, though, it’s fair to ask if they have stalled. Arsenal were never truly in the Premier League title race. Defeat to PSG would conclude yet another trophy-less campaign.

Alternatively, a comeback victory would be the ultimate proof that Arteta’s ideas and methods are still right for this group of Arsenal players. The Gunners have never won the Champions League before. If that is to change, they need Odegaard, Martinelli and their other difference-makers to step up after a disappointing first leg showing. They will make or break Arsenal’s entire season.