Odegaard's former club spanked 4-0 in second Dutch division but neither will stay down for long

By Alessandro Schiavone in Arnhem

Eerste Divisie

Vitesse Arnhem 0-4 Cambuur

Not sure a midfield trio of Nemanja Matic, Martin Odegaard and Mason Mount added to the other eight players would turn the tide at Vitesse Arnhem right now.

Bottom of Eerste Division, Vitesse had to be really on it to cause a shock against promotion favourites and second-in-the-table Cambuur.

Yet despite producing a couple of goal chances early on in the game and keeping the door shut for 21 minutes, the Vites were eventually turned over 4-0.

Remco Balk put the visitors 1-0 up with a nutmegged finish before Diemers extended the lead with a top-corner belter. Balk sealed a personal brace when he guided a follow-up into a gaping net just before half-time.

At 3-0 down, the London trio's former side were adrift in rough seas.

And the winds hadn't passed completely as Rölke added his name to the demolition in the 79th minute.

Having had their professional licence revoked last summer due to financial struggles and links to Roman Abramovich before they had it returned in September, there's currently a deep-rooted malaise at the club.

Yet the supportive fans stand fully behind the team and no murmurs and whistles were heard at half-time or after the final whistle.

The good thing though is that no club can be relegated from the second to the third-tier in the Netherlands as there are only two professional divisions in the country.

Just like Odegaard's injury crisis won't last forever, there will be happier times for his former club Vitesse where he spent the 2018/19 season on loan from Real Madrid.

The experience in the Eredivisie served as a launched pad for the Norwegian's career who then moved to Real Sociedad before Arsenal took a punt. And the rest is history.

Both club and player are going through tough times at the minute.

Yet like Odegaard's stop-start 2025 will fade into a distant memory, Vitesse's meltdown will not last forever either.

They are too big a club not to seal a return to the elite of Dutch football in the coming years.

When it comes to the classy midfielder himself, once he puts his injury woes behind him he will be a headline act again for the Treble-chasing Gunners.