Arsenal ended up just about getting past Greek Super League champions Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday, courtesy of strikes from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
For all the chances, possession and clear-cut openings created by Mikel Arteta’s side, they held a tender 1-0 lead for the majority of the 90, and goalkeeper David Raya was forced into a magnificent first-half save to keep them ahead.
Martin Odegaard
8.1
Myles Lewis-Skelly
7.9
David Raya
7.6
Mikel Merino
7.4
Chiquinho
7.4
via WhoScored
Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres also had multiple chances to extend their advantage, but the Sweden international just couldn’t quite fire home on what was a frustrating night for him.
Arsenal’s control of the match never wavered, with club captain Martin Odegaard pulling all the strings in midfield and dictating the tempo throughout.
The Norwegian’s vision and passing range constantly stretched the visitors’ defence, creating numerous opportunities, particularly for Gyokeres, with the striker feeding off Odegaard’s excellent through balls but missing the final end product.
The £30 million star was very nearly rewarded for his efforts with a goal, but was unable to convert Bukayo Saka’s cut-back very late in the second half.
Instead, it was Saka who ended up putting the game beyond sight in added time, courtesy of another excellent threaded pass from Odegaard, with the England international slotting home through goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis’ legs.
Their routine win over Olympiacos was Odegaard’s first start after coming back from a shoulder problem, and boy did he deliver on a night where he absolutely silenced his critics.
In the build up to their Champions League clash, former Arsenal player Perry Groves suggested that Arteta should continue to bench Odegaard in order to send a message and help the ex-Real Madrid man rediscover his best form.
However, Wednesday’s heroics sent a clear message in return — the 26-year-old is still one of Arteta’s superstars.
Owen Hargreaves says Martin Odegaard has proved he's still Arsenal's star man
This is echoed by TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves, who told the panel during last night’s broadcast that Odegaard was back to his “absolute best” against Olympiacos.
“In the first half, he was the best player by a country mile, at his absolute best, technically, passing, first touch, helped create the first goal, he left no question that he is still the star player at the moment for this team,” Hargreaves told TNT Sports.
“That is probably as good as he can play. He was like a surgeon, he was so precise with everything and when he plays like that, he is just a joy to watch.
“The goal is all him, the touch and the weight of that pass is absolutely fabulous.”
The £240,000-per-week playmaker now has Eberechi Eze to compete with for a place in the centre of Arsenal’s attacking midfield, alongside Ethan Nwaneri, who the Gunners wish to deploy more centrally rather than in the wide area like last season (David Ornstein).
Odegaard will undoubtedly be mindful of the growing competition for a place in Arteta’s starting elevens, but he appears to be staking his claim as an undroppable following last night’s sumptuous display and his assist against Newcastle last weekend.
“It was nice to be back. I feel like I have not played much this season. To be honest, it is probably only the United game, I have missed it and it is good to be back. I felt good, and good win,” Odegaard told TNT Sports.
“That is what I want to do [create], especially when you have those players up front and especially with Viktor, he is so aggressive and always a threat, so that is my job, to create things for them. In the end, I got the assist and could have had a few more and scored a goal, but we got the win and it was good, so I enjoyed it.”
