Recent performances of star players Mohamed Salah and Martin Odegaard have sparked debate among fans of Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively. After Liverpool's 2-1 Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United, where Mohamed Salah failed to register a shot or create a chance, fans have been questioning his contribution to the team.

Amsa staunchly defended Salah, stating, "I cannot believe Salah's contribution is still being questioned - ridiculous! He has single-handedly allowed us to win numerous matches. Without his goals and assists, I suspect we would have really struggled." Andy echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Salah's performance was affected by the team's overall play. "There has been far too much made of Salah's performance. The reality is that the ball hardly got to him," Andy noted, pointing to the team's reluctance to play through midfield and the quality of players around him.

Richard, however, expressed concern about the team's overall performance, saying, "It's true that Salah didn't score, but neither did Nunez. Not one player played as if they wanted to win." He also voiced worries about Liverpool's chances in the league title race. Joe offered a potential explanation for Salah's struggles in key games, suggesting that opposition defenses focus solely on him. "If Liverpool had a top centre-forward to play alongside him, it would take some pressure and defensive focus off him, spread opposition defences more and benefit both players," Joe proposed.

Jason broadened the criticism to the entire Liverpool team's performance in cup finals, while Harry acknowledged Salah's legendary status but pointed out that his output in finals might hinder his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans are debating whether Martin Odegaard should relinquish his captaincy. This discussion arose after an Arsenal fan writer suggested that Odegaard's performances might improve without the added responsibility. Alexandra supported this idea, stating, "I always thought he was too young to be captain in the first place... I agree that he needs to relinquish the captaincy. My preference would be Declan Rice." She believes Rice possesses the necessary leadership qualities and a good overview of the game.

Guy, however, questioned whether a change in captaincy would truly help Odegaard's creativity. "I think he has struggled by not having the best players in front of him, offering runs and options," Guy suggested, highlighting the need for a quality striker. Gabriel was mentioned as an alternative captaincy option.

John proposed keeping Odegaard as captain until Bukayo Saka's return, citing their understanding on the field as a potential catalyst for improvement. Darren shifted the focus to manager Mikel Arteta's tactics, suggesting that a "safety first approach" is the real issue. Pete attributed Odegaard's reduced contribution to squad injuries and believes his numbers will improve when the team is fully fit. Kevin took a more drastic stance, calling for a change of manager.