Martin Odegaard made his Premier League return for Arsenal after an injury layoff against Chelsea on Sunday.
Whilst the Gunners could ultimately only manage a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, Martin Odegaard was still able to make his mark on the game.
The Norwegian playmaker provided the assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal, pressed relentlessly, and led by example on the pitch.
This result delivered a blow to the North London club’s Premier League title hopes, and Arteta was not happy with his Arsenal players after the final whistle, but Odegaard was at least able to provide a spark of positivity at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal fans hail Martin Odegaard after Chelsea return
If Arsenal are to stand any chance of being crowned Premier League champions this season, then they will need Odegaard to remain fit and firing on all cylinders for the rest of the campaign.
That is certainly the way Arsenal fans on X feel, who were quick to praise the former Real Madrid midfielder’s impact against the Blues.
One said: “Odegaard was dead on his feet by the end. Mad that someone who has been out for over 2 months had to complete that game cos we didn’t have faith in other options. Result of poor squad building that we’re in this position. And nobody trying to hear excuses 5 years into the project.”
Another stated: “Odegaard is massive for this team. Night and day difference.”
One fan claimed: “After watching Martin Odegaard play against Chelsea, I can confidently say our season starts now.”
Another added: “Odegaard absolutely cooked yesterday. Facilitating play in deeper areas, finding spaces to create overloads, creativity and sharpness between the lines. Firm believer we could have found better solutions in his absence but ultimately you will always miss a player of that quality.”
Mikel Arteta’s summer transfer mistake
Arteta took a huge risk in the recent summer transfer window in allowing both Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe to leave the Emirates Stadium.
It is now fair to say, given how the Spanish coach struggled to cope without Odegaard, that this transfer strategy backfired on the Gunners.
Arsenal fans missed Odegaard in his time on the treatment table, and that was always going to be the case, but the lack of a natural alternative to the 25-year-old in the squad only served to magnify the impact of his absence.
Things might have been different, though. Arteta should have shown more faith in Ethan Nwaneri in recent weeks.
As it was, though, Leandro Trossard failed to deliver for Arsenal whist Odegaard was out of action, and Arteta’s decision to allow two creative attacking midfielders to leave the club in the same summer without a direct replacement coming in was made to look foolish.
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