Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side benefitted from the international break, as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were both able to recover their fitness during the Premier League hiatus.
The duo combined for the opening goal against Forest. Odegaard claimed the assist, as Saka’s spectacular strike stunned Arsenal fans.
The pair are the heartbeat of the Arsenal attack, the connection that they share is a potent threat. Arteta will be delighted to have the duo back in action and firing on all cylinders once again.
Martin Odegaard compared to Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf certainly feels that Odegaard elevates the Gunners to a whole new level, and has now even compared the Norwegian to some greats of the game.
Speaking on ESPN, the Frenchman said: “Odegaard is back, and that makes a difference. It’s rare in football, some players don’t need to touch the ball too much, they don’t need to dribble.
“Odegaard plays so simple, because he sees everything before. He knows and he feels that, he has strings with other players.
“Odegaard is like Dennis Bergkamp, Gianfranco Zola, he’s like Michel Platini. Those players who don’t need to touch the ball too much because they know exactly. One, two touches, and they make a difference… That’s very rare.”
Of course, Dennis Bergkamp is a bona fide Arsenal legend, and was a key figure in the Invincibles squad, who claimed the 2003/04 Premier League title without losing a single top flight match.
Odegaard is yet to come close to matching such an achievement in an Arsenal shirt, as the Gunners have not won the title since that momentous feat. The 25-year-old would earn his own place in the club’s history if he leads them to the title this time around though.
What’s more, Odegaard does evoke the Dutchman with his style of play, with his cultured passing, supreme technical ability, and easy-on-the-eye manner.
Odegaard shines for Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Arsenal saw the best of Odegaard against Nottingham Forest.
The club captain tied together everything Arteta’s side did in the final third.
As per WhoScored statistics, the former Real Madrid man played 6 key passes, more than any other player on the pitch. He also managed 2 shots, completed 3 dribbles, and successfully executed 3 long balls.
Arsenal fans were thrilled by Odegaard’s performance against Nottingham Forest, and will be pinning many of their hopes for the rest of this season on his ability to stay fit and in such scintillating form.
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