Martin Odegaard: Mikel Arteta explains new role for “dangerous” Arsenal star after Champions League win over Napoli

Mikel Arteta has hailed the interaction of Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard successful his caller midfield relation pursuing their 1-0 distant victory implicit Napoli successful the Champions League connected Wednesday.

Odegaard produced the match-winning infinitesimal successful Italy, driving a left-footed changeable from the borderline of the punishment country into the acold country with 15 minutes remaining.

The Norwegian has accrued his extremity tally to 4 successful 5 appearances crossed each competitions this season, already 3 much than helium managed during an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign.

Arsenal are reaping the benefits of Odegaard playing higher up the transportation successful an precocious cardinal position, with his statistic crossed a scope of attacking metrics having seen a notable rise.

Per 90 minutes crossed the Premier League and Champions League, Odegaard ranks higher for touches successful the opposition’s container (4.3), last 3rd passes completed (38.9), shots (2.6), goals scored (0.9) and chances created (3.7) compared to past season.

Arteta explains Odegaard’s caller relation aft match-winning performance

Following Arsenal’s triumph implicit Napoli, Arteta highlighted Odegaard’s positional alteration and however caller combinations with teammates person played a large portion successful his betterment this season.

"First of each helium needs to beryllium disposable and past twelvemonth helium missed truthful galore games done injuries,” Arteta told reporters. “He's got that borderline and antithetic relationships astir him arsenic good and that helps.

"He tin commencement to spell by antithetic heights successful the team, particularly successful the attacking phase, and erstwhile we get him into those positions he's a truly unsafe player."

Arteta added: "We person a batch of players that tin instrumentality the shot determination and advancement the shot overmuch amended than we did successful the past.

"When that happens, [Odegaard] needs to instrumentality antithetic heights and angles and positions successful bid to disorganise the hostile and he's done that truly well."

Odegaard the difference-maker for Arsenal successful Champions League

Odegaard’s publication against Napoli yet proved decisive for an Arsenal broadside who had 26 shots successful full – their astir connected grounds successful a Champions League crippled since records began successful 2003-04.

"That's what we need," said Arteta. "The players with the mindset to determine a crippled and play with personality. To support taking chances and risks.

"He's getting into those positions overmuch much successful caller games and present you consciousness helium has the affectional authorities that helium knows the shot tin spell in, and helium scored an unthinkable extremity tonight.

"Martin is contributing goals. That is evidently impacting results which is what we privation from our attacking players, to beryllium decisive, and surely helium was that today."

Odegaard is expected to clasp his starting spot erstwhile Arsenal look Sunderland astatine the Stadium of Light successful their adjacent Premier League fixture connected Saturday, erstwhile the Gunners volition endeavour to sphere their cleanable commencement successful the apical flight.