Arteta is thrilled with the 'unbelievable' performance of a star player

Arsenal maintain their strong momentum in the Champions League after a 2-0 win over Olympiacos, and the spotlight of all compliments went to their captain Martin Odegaard.

After a period sidelined due to a shoulder injury, the Norwegian midfielder returned to the starting lineup and immediately demonstrated the leadership quality both in play and influence. Coach Mikel Arteta openly expressed his pride in his player:

The Spanish tactician emphasized: “Martin is given full freedom to push forward, to play with liberty and to consistently pose a threat. Not only through his passes but also in how he controls the ball, dribbles, moves without the ball, and appears in truly dangerous areas.”

The victory over Olympiacos marked Odegaard’s first start since early September. Previously, he had only come on as a substitute against Newcastle but still made a significant impact. Arteta confirmed this as a sign that the Arsenal captain is ready to regain his peak form: “I think today he set up three players in scoring positions. He also should have scored a goal himself. It’s fantastic to have him back. Martin played some excellent minutes against Newcastle to help us win, and today he was truly outstanding.”

A highlight of the game was the connection between Odegaard and Arsenal’s fast attacking line. For the opening goal, he delivered a perfect through ball to Viktor Gyokeres, who broke through. Although the Swedish striker hit the post, Gabriel Martinelli was there to score the rebound and make it 1-0.

The second goal also bore Odegaard’s mark as he provided the pass that led to the decisive scoring chance. Arteta stated that his tactics revolve around the Norwegian playmaker: “We have to play based on his qualities. When you have a front three with such speed and perfectly timed runs, then Martin can activate them, and we must take full advantage of that.”

Arteta also highlighted that creativity is not a pressure for Odegaard but an instinct: “Creativity is part of his natural ability. It doesn’t create pressure because it’s Martin’s strongest skill, producing things few players can do. He has full permission from me to explore, take risks, sense space, and know where to appear to create openings. In the last two games, he has done this very well.”

Odegaard’s brilliant return not only helped Arsenal secure all three points but also sent a positive signal about their ambition to conquer the Champions League this season. If he continues his form like against Olympiacos, the Norwegian playmaker will remain the soul of the North London club’s style of play.

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