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\n\t\tPatrick Vieira was somewhat surprised to see Martin Odegaard start for Arsenal (Picture: Sky Sports)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tPatrick Vieira was somewhat surprised to see Martin Odegaard start for Arsenal (Picture: Sky Sports)<\/p>\n
Patrick Vieira<\/a> questioned Mikel Arteta<\/a>\u2019s decision to start Martin Odegaard<\/a> in Arsenal\u2019s 2-1 defeat to title rivals Manchester City<\/a>, claiming it was a \u2018big gamble\u2019 given the midfielder\u2019s recent return from injury.<\/p>\n Odegaard was restored to Arteta\u2019s XI as one of two changes for the visitors<\/a>, with Gabriel Martinelli<\/a> dropping out and Kai Havertz<\/a> starting through the middle in place of Viktor Gyokeres<\/a>.<\/p>\n Eberechi Eze, who started in the No.10 role against Sporting in midweek, moved out to the left flank to accommodate for Odegaard\u2019s return at the Etihad.<\/p>\n Odegaard had missed the Gunners\u2019 Champions League clash on Wednesday night due to a muscle issue, which he suffered after recovering from a separate knee problem.<\/p>\n But the Norwegian, who reclaimed the captain\u2019s armband from Declan Rice, was a passenger for much of today\u2019s potential title decider, seemingly yet to reach full match fitness following his recent injury woes.<\/p>\n Arsenal had appeared to have dragged themselves back into the top-of-the-table clash, with Gianluigi Donnarumma gifting Arsenal an equaliser through Kai Havertz after Rayan Cherki\u2019s moment of brilliance to open the scoring in a frantic first half<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Erling Haaland restored City\u2019s lead in the 65th minute and Pep Guardiola\u2019s men \u2013 who have a game in hand over Arsenal \u2013 held firm to move to within three points of the league leaders.<\/p>\n \t\t Giving his pre-match views in the Sky Sports studio ahead of kick-off, Vieira raised his concerns with Arteta\u2019s bold decision to recall Odegaard to the side.<\/p>\n The Frenchman said: \u2018I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s a gamble or not but I believe that maybe during the last couple of weeks, he did enough in training to show the manager that he deserved to start and the manager can count on him.<\/p>\n \u2018But for big games like that, I personally believe that it can be a big gamble because they will need a lot of intensity because they\u2019re going to run a lot behind the ball and then, of course, quick decisions.<\/p>\n \u2018You will need to be really good on the ball and he didn\u2019t play a starting game for quite a while so I\u2019m just scared that will be too much for him today.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Micah Richards, meanwhile, suggested Odegaard\u2019s return at No.10 could limit Eze\u2019s potential contribution in the match \u2013 a prediction which was largely proven correct.<\/p>\n \u2018I would have gone with running power against Manchester City<\/a> because they give you chances,\u2019 the ex-Manchester City and England defender explained.<\/p>\n \u2018But the way Arteta has set up his team, yes, Havertz can hold the ball really well and the timing of his runs is excellent.<\/p>\n \u2018But Eze is the one who link play as well, keep the ball so when they get in those areas, can they punish Manchester City? <\/p>\n \u2018In terms of his form, Eze has gone on the left, he\u2019s gone central\u2026 I prefer him more centrally, in that maverick role, and the times when Arsenal<\/a> were conceding early on in the season, it was because he wasn\u2019t doing the defensive work so it\u2019ll be interesting to see how that plays out today.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tWho will win the Premier League title?<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2272065801.jpg\")
\n\t\tOdegaard cut a frustrated figure at the Etihad (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2272071184.jpg\")
\n\t\tEze moved out to the left to accommodate for Odegaard (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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