Martin Ødegaard has undergone a dramatic transformation since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attributes his captain's resurgence to a combination of improved fitness and a fresh tactical deployment. Ødegaard’s influence was on full display on Wednesday when he netted the solitary goal that secured Arsenal’s Champions League win at Napoli.
This strike followed his decisive goal 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 2022-23 season Ødegaard managed just one goal for the Gunners, but this year his contributions have broadened dramatically. Not only is he scoring more frequently, but his involvement in the final third has risen across a spectrum of attacking metrics, from key passes to touches inside the opponent’s box. When questioned about the midfielder’s improvement in the post‑match press conference, Arteta highlighted the importance of availability.
“First of all he needs to be available and last year he missed so many games through injuries,” the manager said. He went on to stress that Ødegaard’s technical quality has always been evident; the recent uptick is largely a product of staying fit and being used in a role that maximises his strengths. Declan Rice echoed this sentiment in a Sky Sports interview, noting the physical setbacks Ødegaard endured last season – two shoulder injuries and an MCL problem – and how impressive it is to see him back to his best form.
“You saw 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,” Rice added. Arteta also pointed to the evolving chemistry between Ødegaard and his teammates as a key factor.
“He’s got that edge and different relationships around him as well and that helps,” the Arsenal 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 inside the opposition’s penalty area have risen from 2.5 per 90 minutes last season to 4.3 per 90 minutes so far this term. This increase reflects Arteta’s decision to grant the captain more freedom to drift into advanced zones, a liberty that is supported by the quality of Arsenal’s midfield and wing play.
“The players around him can take the ball into those spaces and progress it much better than we did in the past,” Arteta said. “When that happens, Ødegaard 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 teammates likely influencing this shift is new signing Christos Tzolis, who already boasts four assists this season, three of which have set up Ødegaard’s goals – including the winner in Naples. The Arsenal attack, operating fluidly down both flanks and through the centre, looked particularly potent at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The Gunners recorded 26 shots in total, the highest tally in a Champions League match for the club since the 2003/04 season, and an expected‑goals figure of 4.05, suggesting they were unlucky not to score even more. Arteta summed up the importance of Ødegaard’s contribution: “That’s what we need – 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, describing Ødegaard as a player in form from the outset of the Napoli encounter. Wright noted Ødegaard’s confidence, his ability to draw the ball in tight spaces, and his knack for finding gaps in the Italian side’s defence. The midfielder’s goal, a clinical finish from the edge of the box after a 29‑pass buildup, epitomised his renewed attacking threat.
With four goals in five games this season – a stark contrast to just one in 36 appearances the previous campaign – Ødegaard appears unburdened by the injuries that once hampered him. Beyond scoring, Ødegaard’s overall influence was evident. He recorded more touches, completed more passes, and created more chances than any other player on the pitch, effectively dictating the tempo of the match.
A particularly inventive moment came when he delivered a perfectly timed pass to Ben White, setting up a golden‑chance that was ultimately saved by Napoli goalkeeper Piero Hincapie. Arteta’s post‑match remarks reinforced the narrative: “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 confidence in Ødegaard’s evolving role signals a broader strategic shift for Arsenal, one that relies on the captain’s vision, movement, and newfound freedom to operate in high‑risk areas. Looking ahead, Arsenal will aim to build on this momentum. The combination of Ødegaard’s revitalised form, the supporting contributions of players like Tzolis, and Arteta’s willingness to adapt tactical setups suggests a promising trajectory for the club in both domestic and European competitions. As the season progresses, keeping Ødegaard fit and continuing to refine his positional freedom will be pivotal to sustaining the Gunners’ attacking potency and achieving their ambitions.