Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard delivered another influential performance as Mikel Arteta’s side secured a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea.
The win came at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal were forced to come from behind after a shock early goal put them on the back foot.
BBC Sport pundit Ashley Young was full of praise for the Norwegian playmaker, highlighting his technical quality and his chemistry with teammates Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.
“When you’ve got a player like Martin Odegaard on the team, he’s just a joy to watch,” Young said during his BBC Sport analysis.
“He’s exciting when he gets on the ball, he’s allowing other players to get on the ball, and the connection down the right side between him, Saka and Havertz, it’s just good to see when you’ve got players that know each other and build relationships in that way.”
Morgan Rogers had given Chelsea a flying start with a spectacular volley inside just two minutes, threatening to unsettle the home side early in the contest.
Arsenal refused to panic, however, gradually asserting control over the match and building momentum through their fluid attacking combinations.
Havertz pulled Arsenal level with a moment of individual brilliance before the home side began to push for a winner heading into half-time.
Odegaard then settled the contest early in the second half, benefiting from a clever dummy by Havertz that allowed the ball to run through the German’s legs before the Arsenal captain collected it and fired a clinical finish past Emiliano MartÃnez.
The goal was a fitting reward for a performance that showcased exactly the qualities Young had highlighted before kick-off, with Odegaard pulling strings throughout and dictating Arsenal’s rhythm.
The former Premier League defender was clearly impressed by how naturally the trio of Odegaard, Saka and Havertz operated down the right side, with their understanding making Arsenal difficult to contain.
Odegaard’s decisive contribution further underlined his importance to Arteta’s system, with the captain consistently stepping up in the matches that matter most.
Arsenal have now opened their Premier League title defence in emphatic fashion, looking increasingly complete and difficult to beat when it matters most in high-profile fixtures.
