IT WAS another satisfying afternoon’s work for Mikel Arteta’s slimmed down, tightknit unit against Brentford.
The 2-1 scoreline was scant justice for an utterly dominant and controlled display, but if it weren’t for a myopic referee and the lack of a clinical striker, it could – and should have been more.
Saka and Smith-Rowe receive most of the plaudits from Arsenal’s fans
But Odegaard and his pinpoint passing – laced with pace and power – sets the tempo for the Gunners
Nevertheless, it was sweet revenge for the Bees’ opening day win over a depleted Gunners team.
As I walked away from a windswept Emirates, despite the continued joy that the headline-making Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe imbue, it was the performance of Martin Odegaard that left the lingering satisfaction.
The Norwegian could use his right foot more often and he certainly could shoot rather than pass (you known which situation I mean), but ultimately it was Odegaard that set the tone on Saturday afternoon.
Every top side, often littered with amazing players, will still have one individual that sets the tempo and rhythm of their team.
They may not always be the team’s superstar but when they are on top of their game, they will make the stars align.
Arteta himself for his first three seasons as a Gunner, was our tempo setter, which is often forgotten.
So, the Spaniard will understand the need to have at least one player who will always look to retain momentum in possession.
For too long, and this is not doing this individual any disservice, that player for Arsenal has been Granit Xhaka.
The Swiss midfielder is a magnificent passer of a football, but even when at his best, the tempo will not be at the required speed to threaten the elite.
Even the greatest, as we saw with Man City at the weekend, when their tempo setters like Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne are at 80 per cent can suffer.
Right now, Odegaard is Arteta’s tempo setter and is approaching his best when it comes to neat, swift passing and interchanges.
A JOY TO BEHOLD
His reverse passes, often cleverly disguised, are a joy to behold and frequently wrong foot opposition defences.
His on-pitch relationship with Saka is bordering on telepathic at times, and his ball retention is invaluable.
Which is why I was stunned that Arteta took the Norwegian playmaker off when 1-0 up away at Wolves – retaining possession of the football was everything then.
Odegaard is not a conventional ‘10’ – instead frequently finding himself on the right, interlinking and exchanging space and the ball with Saka.
But in Arsenal’s setup, this is perfect, particularly when Smith Rowe – who’s not a conventional winger – can drift in-field from the left.
I guess this is why I am so keen for Arteta to try Martinelli as a striker again, to see if it can work with ESR, Odegaard, and Saka behind the Brazilian.
For this to work, perhaps our blond Viking needs to add more assists and goals, but I do think his lack of assist numbers, is far from indicative of his value to our creativity.
His critics, and these lessen week on week, will point to these stats, but for me, those will soon follow if he maintains his current levels.
IMPROVES THOSE AROUND HIM
Right now, Overgaard’s value, and just watch his teammates appreciation of him, is that he is making those around him better players, and there is no bigger compliment than that.
Arteta himself allowed Aaron Ramsey to flourish, and our current No.8 is elevating the levels of his younger colleagues.
The word I used in my post-match tweet about what Odegaard gives the team his fluidity – he keeps us fluid!
He has a picture in his mind, more often than not, of how he wishes to use the ball on receipt, which the best players do.
However, if there are no obvious option, he will seldom pass aimlessly or play a percentage pass.
He will keep the ball himself, twist and turn, until a pass to ensure Arsenal stay on the front foot becomes available to him.
A huge compliment to pay him, in these attributes, would be to say he is ‘Santiesque’.
When exchanging messages with a friend after the match, that person described Odegaard as Arsenal’s de facto captain, which sums it all up to be honest.
For so long, Arsenal in the latter Wenger and Emery eras were devoid of obvious leaders.
Arteta is building a squad that has several – and right now our Norwegian baller is certainly one of them.
