Arsenal: Magic Martin Odegaard lifts mood to reignite title belief | OneFootball

Influential captain delivers an inspired display against Nottingham Forest to show the Gunners just what they’ve been missing

The rain was lashing down at the Emirates Stadium but, with Martin Odegaard back, Arsenal’s world suddenly feels a lot brighter.

Making his first appearance at the Emirates since August, the Norwegian ran the show against Nottingham Forest and was at the heart of Arsenal’s comfortable 3-0 win.

Arsenal are now six points off Premier League leaders Liverpool, who travel to Southampton on Sunday, and Odegaard should give them hope that they are still in this title race.

The Gunners will need more performances like this from their captain, whose fingerprints were all over the win.

No more so was that the case than with Arsenal’s opening goal, which came after 15 minutes courtesy of Bukayo Saka. The winger has performed well in Odegaard’s absence, but even he was lifted by the return of the midfielder.

It would be wrong to label Arsenal as a one-man team, but Odegaard just simply makes everyone around him better

The pair’s relationship is well documented and their understanding was on show here, especially during the first half. In the Premier League last season they created 40 open-play chances for each other - more than any other pair of players - and they added a few more on Saturday.

Odegaard set up Saka for his goal, showing quick feet in the box to play a give-and-go. Saka did the rest, weaving his way across the penalty area before lashing the ball into the top corner.

That set the tempo for Arsenal during an opening 45 minutes where they looked as good as they have done for months. They managed 11 shots in that time and had over 70 per cent possession. Forest, by contrast, did not have a shot on target all game.

Odegaard was everywhere, popping up on the left and in the middle, but largely he was out right with Saka. It was almost as if the pair were looking for each other as soon as they got the ball, so attuned are they to each other’s wavelengths.

And who could blame them, as whenever they combine the pair look so dangerous. Forest were devoid of answers.

The only frustration for Arsenal after the first half is that they were not further ahead and, with the game only at 1-0, Forest were still alive.

The Gunners put paid to that shortly after the break, though, as Thomas Partey made it 2-0. Saka claimed the assist, but the goal was all about the midfielder, who curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Arsenal did not look back from there and by the time Odegaard was taken off with eight minutes to go, the job was done.

The Norwegian was greeted to a standing ovation, with Saka coming off at the same time to lap up the applause, too.

And, as they sat on the bench, they were treated to Ethan Nwaneri rounding off a perfect afternoon for Arsenal.

The 17-year-old combined with Raheem Sterling to score his first Premier League goal. It certainly won’t be his last.