Mikel Arteta has singled out one Arsenal player having seen a ‘huge’ change so far this season from them to further secure a ‘really important’ presence at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners continue to enjoy a terrific term but returned to second in the Premier League standings after Liverpool beat Sheffield United this Thursday. Only two points currently split the table-topping Reds from the Gunners through 30 fixtures, with Manchester City in third.
Arsenal can continue to keep pressure on Liverpool when they visit Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are next in action this Sunday when they travel to Manchester United. But Manchester City could strike first when they head to Crystal Palace.
Martin Odegaard led Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Luton Town
Arteta has seen Arsenal reinforce their title challenge since the turn of the year with 28 of a possible 30 points. Captain Martin Odegaard played an essential role in returning Arsenal to winning ways against Luton Town this Wednesday after their 0-0 draw with Manchester City.
Odegaard (24’) broke the deadlock when Emile Smith Rowe picked Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s pocket and fed Kai Havertz. Pressure from Reiss Nelson would then see Daiki Hashioka (44’) score an own goal and hand the Gunners a 2-0 win as they, briefly, returned to the top spot.
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Drammen native Odegaard now has seven goals and six assists through his 27 appearances across Arsenal’s 30 Premier League games. The 25-year-old has also offered three of those goals and three assists in his last seven appearances. It is his most productive run this term.
Mikel Arteta singles Martin Odegaard’s development out for praise
Now, Arteta has singled Odegaard out for praise after seeing the Arsenal skipper take ‘huge steps’ in his development recently. The Spaniard adores how Odegaard has shouldered the responsibility of setting the standard at Emirates Stadium and being the star others follow.
“He’s made huge steps,” Arteta noted, via quotes by the Mirror. “His presence, the way he’s behaving himself in front of the group and the standard that he sets is outstanding. He’s got a lot of players, as well, to support him and the rest to follow with him.”
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Arteta added: “He’s a really important player. We needed that balance and the chemistry that certain players have because it’s how they train, as well, and how we build those connections and relationships. Martin is there to connect everything well in how we play.”
Odegaard has offered Arsenal 10 goals and seven assists through 38 appearances across all competitions so far this term. Only Bukayo Saka (16) and Leandro Trossard (11) have more goals. Saka (13) is also the only Gunner with more assists than Declan Rice and Odegaard.