Ødegaard key to Arsenal level of performance

Arsenal continue to defy the pre-season critics after the Gunners dispatched a hapless Norwich 5-0 at Carrow Road and secured their fourth win on the spin in the process.

With 14-goals across their last five fixtures in the Premier League, Arsenal currently sits fourth in the table ahead of sides like Manchester United, Tottenham, and West Ham whom many felt before a ball was kicked in anger that the club may struggle to finish ahead after ending up in 8th last term under Mikel Arteta.

But the Spaniard’s young guns have turned up in style in 2021-22, headlined by club leading goalscorer Emile Smith Rowe, star winger Bukayo Saka, and budding Brazilian youngster Gabriel Martinelli; all without the influence of former club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

However, very quietly, summer signing Martin Ødegaard has made himself indispensable in the Arsenal XI this season and the data behind his displays only proves it further.

Via The Athletic, one key statistic shows that the recent goal glut Arsenal has enjoyed is very much down to the creative spark provided by the Norwegian international after settling to life at the Emirates exceptionally well; his chances created from open play.

Martin Odegaard is creating 1.9 open play chances per 90. Only Sterling, Grealish & Bruno Fernandes are creating more opportunities for team-mates.

You can read more about his role in an improving Arsenal attack over @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/N8SLwkKVvm pic.twitter.com/W8TkQVl1oy

— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) December 28, 2021

Only Manchester City pair Raheem Sterling & Jack Grealish, as well as Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, has created more chances from open play than Ødegaard (~1.9/90min) this season in the Premier League.

Norwegian star headlines impressive – and targeted – summer business

Despite not leading Arsenal in the assist column this season, the free-flowing and penetrative football on display by the Gunners this season has been directly influenced by the former Real Madrid and Strømsgodset IF creator-in-chief, proving Mikel Arteta correct when he viewed Ødegaard as his prime transfer target in the summer.

Ødegaard, who despite failing to build a career in the Spanish capital, established his reputation during credible loan stints at Real Sociedad, SC Heerenveen, and Vitesse Arnhem in a career at the top level that has already spanned 7-years despite still being just 24-years-old.

His purchase, along with Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Sambi Lokonga, and Nuno Tavares has constituted a clear and undeniable long-term platform that both Arteta and club technical director Edu Gaspar continue to champion in north London.

If the data behind his influence during the first-full season at Arsenal is anything to go by, Arsenal has finally found a creative replacement for former stars like Mesut Özil and Santi Cazorla.