Arteta calls on Arsenal to get more from in-form captain Odegaard

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to involve Martin Odegaard more often after the Norway midfielder made an outstanding start to the 2026/27 season.

Odegaard has scored four goals in five appearances in all competitions, including the winning goals in consecutive matches against Chelsea last Sunday and Napoli in Wednesday’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory.

The 27-year-old missed much of the 2025/26 campaign because of injuries, but Arsenal still ended a 21-year wait for the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain.

Arteta said Odegaard’s performances this season were a reminder of the player Arsenal had come to rely on, while stressing the importance of keeping him fit and involved.

“First of all, he [Odegaard] needs to be available and last year he missed so many games through injuries,” Arteta said at his post-match news conference after the victory over Napoli.

“The quality’s always been there. It’s never been a question. Last year, to have two shoulder injuries like he did, then a MCL injury he did, 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 is our captain. We need to keep giving him the ball and letting things happen.”

The French manager also explained that Odegaard’s role has had to evolve because of the greater quality available in Arsenal’s squad.

The Gunners now have more players capable of receiving possession and advancing the ball, meaning Odegaard must vary his positioning to create space and unsettle opponents.

“We have a lot of players that can take the ball there and progress the ball much better than we did in the past,” added Arteta, the former Manchester City assistant coach.

“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.”

Odegaard’s latest decisive contribution came against Napoli, when his goal secured a 1-0 Champions League win and followed his late winner against Chelsea the previous Sunday.

Arsenal’s next fixture is a league meeting with Sunderland on Saturday at the Stadium of Light.