Arteta Makes Three Demands Of Odegaard To Benefit Arsenal

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Martin Odegaard now has four goals in five games so far this season after making an impressive start to the new term

Martin Odegaard's excellent start to the season continued on Wednesday evening as he netted the winner for Arsenal at Napoli in the Champions League.

Linking up well with Christos Tzolis 18 yards from goal, the Gunners captain's powerful drive in the 75th minute found the net via the post to hand Mikel Arteta's team the perfect start to their European campaign.

It was in fact Odegaard's fourth goal in five games this season, with the 1-0 win at Aston Villa the only match where he hasn't found the back of the net.

The 27-year-old has already surpassed the one goal he scored last term and he may even get close or beat his previous best of 15 goals in a season (2022/23) for the north London club if he carries on at his current rate.

Injury disrupted Odegaard's 2025/26 season as Arsenal won the Premier League but he has come back stronger than ever and he told TNT Sports after the win in Naples that it was "really important" for him to start the new campaign fast .

Arsenal are seeing more of Odegaard in attacking areas right now, something Arteta has asked him to do , and that is a key reason for his increase in goals.

"Yes, because he can, and we have now a lot of players that can take the ball there and they can progress the ball much better than we did in the past," explained the Spaniard when asked in his post-match press conference if he's asked Odegaard to attack more.

> "When that happens he needs to take different heights and angles and positions in order to disorganise the opponent, and he's done that really well tonight."

He added: "First of all, he needs to be available, and last year he missed so many games through injuries.

> "He's got that edge, and he's got now different relationships around him as well, and that helps, and now he can start to occupy some very different heights in the team, especially in the attacking phase, and when we get him into those positions, he’s a very dangerous player."

The head coach has also set the player a goals target that could bode very well for Arsenal in the months ahead.

"Yes, goals every week, every game goals, that's the target," said Arteta.

On current form, you wouldn't bet against Odegaard adding to his tally for the season with another goal at Sunderland on Saturday evening.

All connected with Arsenal will be hoping that the club's Premier League title win is the first of many trophies set to follow over the coming years.

As well as retaining their league title, Arsenal will want to go one better in the Champions League after coming so close to winning the competition in May after their final defeat to PSG.

Odegaard is going to be key to their hopes going forward, with the Norwegian ace someone who makes the Gunners tick due to what he can offer in the middle of the park and final third.

Arsenal are much better for having Odegaard at the top of his game and that has been evident already this season.

The player is already benefiting on the goal front and it appears that his current form will only continue with him getting back to the very top of his game.

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