Martin Odegaard scored 1 goal in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over newcomer Coventry City on the opening day of the Premier League. That goal helped him equal his scoring record last season. This statistic will surprise many people, but last season was really very difficult for the Norwegian midfielder.
In the two 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Martin Odegaard was voted the best player of the tournament. However, in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, he was not even included in the nomination list. Last season, Odegaard suffered 4 different injuries that disrupted his dedication. "Gunners" fans are very worried about the captain and the recent performance has partly dispelled that.
In his prime, Odegaard often had the habit of playing offensively and penetrating the penalty area to score goals. Last season, in his few appearances, he tended to play deep, which is not his forte.
In the pre-season period, the Norwegian star gradually showed his return with a familiar performance that made his brand. He moved continuously, always observed and always looked for opportunities to launch decisive passes. Teammates felt Odegaard's positivity and also played more excitedly.
Everything with Odegaard in the match against Coventry was almost perfect. The 27-year-old midfielder played actively and scored. That goal may not be as impressive as the Community Shield match, but the result is the most important thing. After a forgettable season with personal performance, plus full preparation and not rushing back, Odegaard is in good form.
After the match, of course Mikel Arteta gave flowery words to his student. Arsenal's midfield is very crowded, after Bruno Guimaraes appeared. However, in the role of directly scoring or igniting the attack, none of Guimaraes, Merino, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze,... can do better than Odegaard. Arsenal still has the Champions League goal ahead and they still need the captain to reach high form.
Mikel Arteta once faced the problem of finding a certain factor to gradually replace Odegaard in the role of attacking midfielder. However, the available options in the squad such as Eze are only temporary options. Not only important in controlling the tempo and launching attacks, Odegaard is also a person who regularly coordinates with Saka, helping this striker to be much more free in breakthroughs into the opponent's penalty area.
With Bruno Guimaraes coming, plus the return of Martin Odegaard, Arsenal can rest assured about the quality of the midfield. The new season has just begun, there will be many more variables, but right now, the fear of force shortage is no longer there for "Gunners" fans.
