Martin Odegaard's man-of-the-match performance was the highlight of Arsenal's 3-0 Community Shield demolition of Manchester City and showed early signs that the Gunners' chief creator might be returning to his best after a frustrating 2025-26. Although Arsenal won the Premier League last season, knee and shoulder problems stopped their Norwegian playmaker from reaching his very top level. He only started 16 times in the league and his one goal and seven assists were his lowest totals since joining the club permanently from Real Madrid in 2021-22.
On Sunday in Cardiff, Odegaard capped an all-action display with a brilliant third goal when his dummy left City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on the floor. Odegaard was a key part at the start of Mikel Arteta's rejuvenation of Arsenal. If he stays fit and keeps up this form, will he feel like a new signing for the Spanish manager?
After winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, Arteta has moved to strengthen his midfield with the signing of £75m Bruno Guimaraes. Mikel Merino, one of Arsenal's many midfielders, has called the Gunners' options in that area of the pitch "probably the best in football". With Odegaard, Guimaraes - who impressed in his 45 minutes on the pitch - Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Merino, it is hard to disagree.
Odegaard's quality has never been in doubt but he did not showing it consistently last season and there were also debates by former players about whether he should be captain. Sunday's performance went some way to dispelling those question marks. Odegaard shone in all areas - of the Arsenal players in action on Sunday, he completed the most passes (55/58), dribbles (3/3) and won possession the most times (nine).
Maybe the added level of competition in midfield will bring another level out of the Gunners captain? Odegaard finished last season fit and went on to shine at the World Cup with Norway. He started five of Norway's six games in the tournament and registered four assists.
"Last year was really a big struggle with a lot of difficult moments. To miss so many games because of injury was really frustrating," Odegaard said on Sunday. "It is the worst thing for a footballer to not be able to be on the pitch and I had quite a lot of weird injuries, and bad luck.
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