Martin Odegaard is finding fresh purpose under Mikel Arteta this season, and the numbers back it up. The Arsenal captain struck the winner in a 1-0 Champions League victory at Napoli on Wednesday, his fourth goal in just five appearances — a stark contrast to a solitary strike across the whole of last season.
According to Sky Sports, Arteta has attributed the Norwegian's revival to a repositioning within the side, pushing him into a more advanced, attacking role compared to previous campaigns. Improved fitness has also played its part, allowing Odegaard to sustain his influence higher up the pitch rather than dropping deep to help build play.
The goal in Naples underlined Arsenal's strong start to the European season and offered further evidence that their captain is rediscovering the sharpness that once made him one of the Premier League's most creative midfielders. With Odegaard now directly involved in shaping Arsenal's attacking output, Arteta's tactical tweak appears to be paying early dividends as the club look to build momentum on both domestic and continental fronts.