Martin Ødegaard has undergone a striking transformation since the beginning of the current campaign, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attributes his captain's surge in form to a combination of improved fitness and a fresh tactical deployment. The Norwegian midfielder was once again the decisive factor for the Gunners on Wednesday, netting the solitary goal that secured a Champions League win at Napoli. This strike followed his match‑winning finish against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, bringing his tally to four goals in five appearances across all competitions this season. During the injury‑plagued 2025/26 season, Ødegaard managed just one goal for Arsenal, but his contributions have now expanded far beyond scoring.
He is registering higher numbers in a suite of attacking metrics, including increased touches inside the opposition penalty area, more progressive passes, and a greater share of key passes that lead to shots. Arteta highlighted the importance of availability in his post‑match briefing: "First of all he needs to be available and last year he missed so many games through injuries." The manager underscored that the player's underlying quality has always been present, but recurring shoulder problems and an MCL injury hampered his consistency.
Declan Rice echoed this sentiment in a Sky Sports interview, noting, "Last year, to have two shoulder injuries like he did, then an MCL injury, it's never easy. But then you see him at the World Cup and how he's started this year.
That's the Martin we know and we love, he's our captain. We need to keep giving him the ball and letting things happen." Arteta also pointed out that fresh on‑field relationships are playing a crucial role in Ødegaard's resurgence. "He's got that edge and different relationships around him as well and that helps," the Gunners boss explained. "He can start to go by different heights in the team, especially in the attacking phase, and when we get him into those positions he's a really dangerous player." Statistically, the change is evident: Ødegaard's average touches in the opponent's box have risen from 2.5 per 90 minutes last season to 4.3 per 90 minutes so far this term.
Arteta credited this increase to the improved movement of his teammates in open play, a factor he felt was lacking in previous seasons. "We have a lot of players that can take the ball there and progress the ball much better than we did in the past," he said. "When that happens, [Odegaard] needs to take different heights and angles and positions in order to disorganise the opponent and he's done that really well." One of the players Arteta referenced is summer signing Christos Tzolis, who has already contributed four assists, three of which set up Ødegaard's goals, including the decisive strike in Naples. The Arsenal attack, operating effectively down both flanks and through the centre, looked particularly potent at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The Gunners recorded 26 shots in total – their highest tally in the competition since the 2003/04 season – and posted an expected‑goals figure of 4.05, indicating that they were fortunate to win by a single goal. Arteta summed up his expectations: "That's what we need.
The players with the mindset to decide a game and play with personality. To keep taking chances and risks. He's getting into those positions much more in recent games and now you feel he has the emotional state that he knows the ball can go in, and he scored an incredible goal tonight." Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright offered his perspective, noting that Ødegaard's performance against Napoli was a masterclass in confidence and technical ability.
He described the midfielder as "oozing class and confidence, demanding the ball then finding the gaps in Napoli's defence and threading passes forward." Wright highlighted the build‑up to the goal – a 29‑pass sequence culminating in a strike from the edge of the box – as evidence of Ødegaard's elevated influence. The Norwegian now boasts four goals in five games, a dramatic reversal from the solitary goal he recorded in 36 appearances the previous season.
Beyond scoring, Ødegaard's all‑round contribution was evident: he recorded the most touches, completed the highest number of passes, and generated more chances than any other player on the pitch. His vision was on display when he delivered a perfectly timed pass to Ben White, creating a golden opportunity that was ultimately saved by Napoli goalkeeper Piero Hincapie. Throughout the match, Ødegaard demonstrated freedom, flair, and a willingness to take on defenders, traits that were missing during his injury‑ridden spell.
Arteta reiterated the significance of Ødegaard's goal contribution: "Martin is contributing goals. That is obviously impacting results which is what we want from our attacking players, to be decisive, and certainly he was that today." The manager's comments reflect a broader strategic shift at Arsenal, where the emphasis is on giving creative players the space to operate in varied zones of the pitch, thereby unsettling opposition defenses. Looking ahead, the Gunners are poised to reap the benefits of this tactical evolution. By allowing Ødegaard to drift into more advanced positions and by fostering stronger link‑up play with teammates like Tzolis, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal hopes to sustain a high‑scoring rhythm throughout the season.
The combination of improved fitness, tactical flexibility, and enhanced on‑field chemistry suggests that Ødegaard could remain a pivotal figure in Arsenal's quest for domestic and European success. The transformation observed this season serves as a reminder that when a player is healthy, trusted, and deployed in a role that maximises his strengths, the impact can be both immediate and far‑reaching for the entire squad.