Arsenal are passing every test - and Odegaard is in form of his life

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Arsenal are passing every test - and Odegaard is in form of his life
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Arsenal were one game away from the dream double of Premier League and Champions League last season, even with the brilliance of Martin Odegaard diminished by injuries and indifferent form.
As they look to go one better than that fully merited first Premier League title in 24 years, Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta will be thrilled to see the 27-year-old Norwegian starting the new campaign in the form of his life.
If they could win the title and only lose to Paris St-Germain on penalties in the Champions League final with Odegaard in those reduced circumstances, what can Arsenal achieve with their captain already stamping his authority so significantly domestically and in Europe?
Arsenal dominated Napoli in the opening game of their Champions League campaign, but it still took Odegaard to make the decisive contribution with a stunning left-foot strike 15 minutes from time to secure a 1-0 win.
It seems, with Odegaard in this form, Arsenal can overcome every test to make anything possible for Arteta's team.
Odegaard was troubled by knee and shoulder injuries last season, restricting him to only 36 games in all competitions, scoring just one goal with seven assists. He only played in 24 Premier League matches as Arsenal finally lifted the crown.
He showed signs of a revival as Norway reached the World Cup quarter-final, losing to England, but has moved on to a different level in the opening phase of this season.
Odegaard gave a flavour of what was to come in the Community Shield win against Manchester City in Cardiff with an audacious final goal in Arsenal's 3-0 win, sitting down keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before passing the ball into an empty net.
He scored in the 3-0 victory against Coventry City, also scoring the winner as Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Emirates Stadium to maintain their 100% start.
Odegaard scored after a perfectly timed, intelligent run into the box that allowed him to step on to Kai Havertz's clever dummy before sending an emphatic finish past Chelsea keeper Emiliano Martinez.
This, and his winner in Naples, was the work of a lavishly gifted player finally operating at the peak of his powers once more, fully fit and playing in a team overflowing with the confidence and self-belief long-awaited success has given them.
It was a win Arsenal needed, because they face some tough Champions League assignments on the road ahead, such as a home game with Real Madrid and a visit to Bayern Munich.
The manner in which they patiently broke down Napoli's resistance, with the Serie A side utilising a defensive shield straight from veteran coach Max Allegri's well-thumbed playbook, showed calmness and maturity.
In every act this season, Arsenal already look like a side ready to build on their achievements of last term.
'When Odegaard is at his best, Arsenal are at their best'
Odegaard, as manager Arteta hinted, is almost playing like someone with something to prove, knowing himself that while Arsenal had a season of glory last time out, his personal contribution was not what he expected from himself.
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha, a pundit on Wednesday's Match of the Day, said Odegaard "will want to have a bigger impact on the team this season".
"They have got unfinished business in the Champions League," said Onuoha. "He wants to be the first captain of Arsenal to lift that trophy.
"You would not back against them winning it based on what we've seen them do in this competition in the past two seasons, but he 100% takes Arsenal to a different level when he is on form and playing like this.
"That's the way it should be as well. I think when he is at his best, Arsenal are at their best.
"I think there have been times when he's not been at his best and as a team they can still look good and win games, but the best version of Arsenal in my opinion comes when Odegaard is pulling the strings, because so many other players will be involved in the way they attack, and the way they attack will look different at certain points."
Odegaard caps dominant Arsenal performance
This time around, Odegaard looks smooth as silk – and it is no coincidence Arsenal look exactly the same.
"This is what we need: players with that mindset to decide the game, to play with that personality and keep taking risks," said Arteta. "He is getting into those positions much more in recent games. It was an incredible goal."
In Naples, Odegaard not only settled the game but set the tone, working tirelessly as the perfect of example of leadership as well as being the match winner.
"Arsenal have obviously looked good at the start of the season and he has been a big reason for that," added Onuoha. "Some of his creativity, especially on the right-hand side, has been excellent.
"He looks after the ball so well. He is always looking for that pass to be able to create opportunities and he even does the defensive work as well."
Odegaard succeeded where other team-mates failed, Arsenal missing several clear-cut opportunities before he struck.
Arsenal's superiority was illustrated by having 26 shots, their most in a single Champions League match since records started being kept in 2003-04. It was also the most Napoli have faced in that time.
"Martin is contributing with goals that are impacting results which is what we want from our attacking players, being decisive," said Arteta. "We should have done it in a different way because of the amount of chances we created."
The Champions League has proved elusive for Arsenal, with finals lost to Barcelona in 2006 and to PSG last season.
It remains their Holy Grail – but if Odegaard maintains his brilliant form then their chances of crossing a so far insurmountable barrier will increase hugely.

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