Quote Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn View Post
Because the most rational explanation is a player who for the past two seasons was our driving force going forward would win the ball and had stats up there with De Bruyne, is suddenly now playing like Aaron Ramsey because Arteta who never had a problem with his positive play at the time has suddenly decided he needs to be far more safety first and introverted in his play.

That would make far more sense than a player who has never found his form after being injured for two months and because the on the pitch injury was quite a nasty one, it got in his head and he’s now more cautious. That and given he’s played every game almost since he’s been back he’s also just running on fumes.
We have been playing in the same safety first system for the entirety of this season, no doubt as a result of us not beating Villa at the end of last season and losing out on the title.

Arteta obviously would have changed out play up to counter this situation and it has resulted in the obsessive, possession based, cautious play we have been watching for the last 26+ games.

So yes, I would say Odegaard is doing what the manager wants, along with the rest of the team.