Two Arsenal stars now rank in the top three across Europe for one brilliant creative stat

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Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have been outstanding going forward this season, and both have hit top form in recent weeks.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been ruthless in front of goal in 2024, with Saka and Odegaard continuing their fine form from last season.

The pair are two of the best attacking players in Europe, with Theo Walcott recently describing Saka as one of the best wingers in the World, whilst Odegaard’s sensational performances even beyond his output have drawn praise.

Aside from goals and assists, both players contribute heavily creatively, and are the players Arsenal fans look towards when the team needs a goal. A stat has now emerged which shows that they are two of the best creative players in Europe’s top five leagues.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard among best in Europe for chance creation

A stat via FBRef has now shown that Odegaard ranks top of any player in Europe’s big five leagues for live-ball shot-creating actions.

This means that there is no one better than the Arsenal captain when it comes to creating chances in open play.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes ranks second in Europe behind Odegaard, with Saka in third place.

Odegaard has made 112 live ball shot-creating actions, whilst Saka has made 98. Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane and Rodri make up the rest of the top six.

Saka and Odegaard are instrumental for Arsenal’s creativity

Most of Arsenal’s attacks come down the right-hand side of the pitch as it allows Odegaard and Saka to get on the ball more.

Whilst Saka has also been a brilliant goalscorer this season, his creativity is perhaps underrated, and he is a key figure in the Arsenal team in terms of creating opportunities for his teammates.

Odegaard ranking highly in this metric comes as little surprise. He has registered seven assists in all competitions so far, but it is clear in his performances that he deserves more given how many chances he creates.

There has not been a single league game since 2021 in which both Saka and Odegaard were absent, highlighting how highly Arteta values the pair, and both signed long-term deals in the summer to keep them at the club for the foreseeable future.

If Arsenal are to continue challenging in the title race, then both players will need to maintain their current level of form for the rest of the season.