'Must be braver' - Jamie Carragher calls out Mikel Arteta's Arsenal favourite

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has called upon Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard to be braver in attacks to help the Gunners close the gap on their Premier League title rivals.

On Saturday, Arsenal lost ground in the race for the title as they let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Earlier that afternoon, Liverpool left it late to beat Brentford 2-0 thanks to a Darwin Nunez brace.

While Arsenal's goalscoring record in the Premier League this season has not been particularly poor, they have been wasteful in forward areas and have failed to convert dominant statistics into more dangerous opportunities. Analysing their recent form on Monday Night Football, Carragher believes that a shift in Odegaard's performance could help.

"I am going to look at where they need to improve because that is where Liverpool are much better than them, when they are attacking," he explained. "Look at Martin Odegaard, he is the kind of man you want in these positions (forward area pockets).

"He is always on the outside of it, looking in. There is a horseshoe (around the penalty box).

"Martin Odegaard has to be braver and step into these positions. It gets recycled to Declan Rice, he is looking for a pass in here but again, there is nothing in here.

"Nobody to combine with and, as I have said, they have had great success but in terms of getting towards where Liverpool are, they have got to get in those positions. Against Aston Villa, Odegaard is in the pocket, exactly where you want him to be.

"Mikel Merino and Odegaard go onto the last line so they are back in a situation where nobody is in the pockets. Odegaard has got to be in here (the pocket) and drag defenders out of position."

After showing the highlights of Odegaard's performances last week, Carragher took a closer look at the Norwegian's statistics which show he has been retrieving the ball considerably more on the flanks this season (34 per cent) than in previous campaigns (28 per cent).

"I am looking at Odegaard because he has got to be taking up positions, being braver and having more courage to stay in there," Carragher concluded. "You see the percentage of touches on the flanks, that is a big jump (this season).

"If you think of David Silva, the greatest thing about him was that he always stayed between the lines. In those tight, intricate spaces he would be there and play that pass.

"Odegaard for me is taking the safe option, being side of the block, getting a bit of feet time and keeping the ball but he has got to stay in there."

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