Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker insists Noni Madueke has âmore about himâ than Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners lost 2-1 to Aston Villa over the weekend to let their lead at the top of the table slip to two points with second-placed Manchester City beating Sunderland 3-0.
Despite that Arsenal are still having a good season and have a plethora of options in all positions after signing eight new players in the summer transfer window.
Saka starts most matches for Mikel Artetaâs side but Parker reckons Madueke has âgot more about himâ than his fellow England international.
Parker told British Gambler: âArsenal have the players that can take opposition on, namely Declan Rice and Noni Madueke. Every time Madueke comes on, heâs got more about him than Bukayo Saka. Madueke frightens defenders and goes at people.
âSaka doesnât bother defenders because they know what heâs going to do, heâs too predictable. Heâs going to turn his back and try and fend you off and then either try to get a foul or pass it back.â
READ:Â Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are still waiting for their first title to come to them
On Arsenal, Parker added: âThe team isnât playing to the strengths of Viktor Gyokeres or Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli stops full backs from going forward, he doesnât get enough game time.
âArteta is looking for defensive work and doesnât want them to concede, but that limits your options in the attack and score. Thatâs why Arsenal look on edge against the big teams. They talk about winning the league but theyâre not playing like it.
âIf you want to win the title you need to go out there and show teams the reason why you want to win it, you need to boss them. Teams donât come away from playing Arsenal happy theyâve earnt a point out of a game, and that speaks a lot about Artetaâs side this season.â
Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise reckons Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard is underrated by most football supporters.
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Riise told footitalia.com: âHe is definitely underrated, but I think thatâs what happens when youâre a captain. A couple of seasons ago he was scoring goals and providing assists, and you get that pressure on you to repeat those numbers. Then if you donât reach that level, every match, you get criticised.
âBut people donât realize how good he is sometimes. Heâs an amazing player, amazing person, great captain. I can just see what heâs done for Norway and heâs doing for Norway, his teammates and the team here.
âBut also all of the things he does on the pitch donât get noted. How much he runs, how much he is there, how much he tells his teammates what to do. Yes, I think heâs underrated. Even though people love him and know heâs a great player, I think he should get more praise.
âI sometimes see Arsenal fans on social media and theyâre often negative about him, and I donât get it, because heâs an amazing player.â
