Arsenal miss the chance to break away: Odegaard's form declines, Gabriel Jesus becomes a burden.

Arsenal missed the opportunity to extend their lead over the chasing pack to nine points after a frustrating draw against Nottingham Forest. Instead of a comfortable win to consolidate their top spot, Mikel Arteta's side displayed a lackluster performance. The focus of criticism fell on captain Martin Odegaard, but the reality on the pitch revealed another star who delivered an even greater disappointment.

Martin Odegaard: When the conductor suddenly "disappears"

Undeniably, Martin Odegaard had an underwhelming performance at City Ground. As captain and the architect of Arsenal's attacking play, the Norwegian midfielder's statistics were truly alarming. In 56 minutes on the pitch, he was completely ineffective with 0 shots, 0 successful dribbles, and only 1 key pass.

The fact that a top-class playmaker only completed 18 passes in almost an hour of play shows he was completely isolated by the Nottingham Forest defense. Odegaard's decline is not just a one-game setback but the result of a prolonged run of poor form. In the 2025/26 season, after 22 appearances, he has only scored 1 goal and provided 4 assists. Odegaard's contribution to goals has almost halved compared to the previous season, from 0.4 to 0.22 goals per game.

Gabriel Jesus: The disappointment known as the "Super Sub"

While Odegaard was considered ineffective, Gabriel Jesus, upon coming on as a substitute, became a true "disaster" from a professional standpoint. In the final 33 minutes of the match, the Brazilian striker not only failed to provide any breakthrough but also slowed down the team's attacking tempo.

With just 13 touches, Jesus lost possession five times. He failed in 100% of his dribbles and lost the only one he participated in. Most notably, the former Man City star missed a golden opportunity that could have changed the course of the game. His heavy running and poor ball control rendered Jesus ineffective against the opposing defense.

Is this the end of Jesus' future at Emirates?

Jesus's season statistics further darken the bleak picture, with just one goal and one assist in 11 appearances (mostly from the bench). This is unacceptable for a star earning a salary of £265,000 per week. Recurring injuries seem to have robbed him of his explosiveness and ability to maneuver in tight spaces – the very weapons that once defined his career.

Although selling Jesus in January is unlikely given the intense phase of the season, his performance at City Ground suggests his future at Arsenal is numbered. To maintain their position in the long-term title race, Mikel Arteta needs genuine goalscorers rather than stars who are merely shadows of their former selves.