Martin Odegaard is playing the best football of his career, and Arsenal are reaping the rewards. After an injury-hit campaign in which his team came agonisingly close to winning both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, the Norwegian captain is delivering the performances that could push Mikel Arteta's side over the line this time.

Arsenal finished last season lifting their first Premier League title in 24 years — a remarkable achievement even with Odegaard restricted by knee and shoulder injuries to 36 appearances across all competitions, contributing just one goal and seven assists. He featured in only 24 Premier League matches. Yet they still reached the Champions League Final, where they fell to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

A reminder of his quality

Signs of a return to form came during Norway's run to the World Cup quarter-final — a campaign that ended in defeat to England — but Odegaard has since shifted to an altogether different level. He opened the new season with a moment of theatre in the Community Shield, sitting down Gianluigi Donnarumma before rolling the ball into an empty net to complete a 3-0 win against Manchester City in Cardiff.

He followed that up with a goal in the 3-0 victory over Coventry City, before scoring the winner as Arsenal came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 at Emirates Stadium. That goal was a study in intelligence — a perfectly timed run allowed him to step on to Kai Havertz's dummy and drive an emphatic finish past Emiliano Martinez.

Settling the score in Naples

In Arsenal's opening UEFA Champions League fixture, Odegaard again proved the difference. Facing a Napoli side set up in a disciplined defensive shape drawn from veteran coach Max Allegri's playbook, Arsenal dominated — recording 26 shots, the most they have managed in a single Champions League match since records began in 2003-04, and the most Napoli have ever conceded in that competition. Yet only one blow truly landed: a stunning left-foot strike from Odegaard 15 minutes from time to seal a 1-0 victory.