When Christos Tzolis moved infield from the left and surged towards the box, Kai Havertz sensed that a familiar pattern was unfolding.
Tzolis had produced an almost identical move on his competitive Arsenal debut against Manchester City in the Community Shield weeks earlier. He attacked the full-back, shifted inside and sent a dangerous ball towards the penalty spot.
Martin Ødegaard arrived behind Havertz to collect the pass cleanly. He shaped to shoot, wrong-footing Gianluigi Donnarumma, before calmly guiding the ball into the vacant goal.
With Arsenal and Chelsea level shortly after half-time on Sunday, Tzolis repeated the approach.
On this occasion, the delivery was aimed at Havertz but fell marginally behind him. Having seen this movement before, the German anticipated that Ødegaard would be quietly advancing into the penalty area as soon as Tzolis turned inside.
Havertz brilliantly transformed the imperfect pass into an ideal setup by stepping over the ball and allowing it to reach his captain. Ødegaard controlled it with his first touch and then lifted his finish beyond Emiliano Martínez, giving Arsenal a lead they retained until the final whistle.
Ødegaard’s increased presence in advanced areas has already become a notable feature of the campaign. He has scored three times in four matches, having managed only one goal across 36 appearances last season.
Mikel Arteta and his coaching team have evidently worked on getting the fit-again midfielder into threatening positions more regularly. In league matches this season, Ødegaard has averaged 3.2 high-intensity runs into the opposition box per 90 minutes while Arsenal are in possession, compared with 1.4 last term.
Although the current season provides only a limited sample, the fact that the figure has more than doubled remains noteworthy. More importantly, his attacking threat has risen dramatically.
He has also made seven off-ball runs to offer teammates a crossing target in three league appearances, already approaching last season’s total of 10. That represents an increase from 0.65 to 2.8 per 90 minutes, more than four times the previous rate. One such movement produced his goal in the opening match against Coventry.
Following two years repeatedly interrupted by injuries, the 27-year-old’s uneven development now appears to be accelerating in a positive direction. For an Arsenal side that has looked commanding this season, his progress is an encouraging sign.
The captain contributed to the club’s 2025-26 championship success, but he may be among those most determined to win it again. Recurring knee problems kept him out for a substantial part of that campaign, and his playing time remained limited even when he was available.
He completed 1,371 of the possible 3,420 league minutes, just over 40%. Despite being fit during the closing stages and featuring in major fixtures, including Arsenal’s journey to the Champions League final, he was far less influential than he had been following his permanent arrival in the summer of 2021.
Arsenal initially recruited a highly gifted No 10, but Ødegaard has since evolved into a more complete No 8. He regularly drops deeper to receive possession ahead of the opposing midfield and helps circulate the ball across the pitch.
This season’s evidence indicates that he will operate nearer to Havertz more frequently while continuing to fulfil his responsibilities as a No 8. Havertz may not be the most consistent finisher, but he is an intelligent and effective centre-forward who often functions as a false nine. Consequently, he requires more teammates making runs beyond him than Viktor Gyökeres does.
Arteta appears likely to use Havertz as his preferred central striker this season, increasing the importance of regular goals from Ødegaard. Given the Norwegian’s strong opening, he should at least compete with his personal best of 15 goals in all competitions, recorded in 2022-23. His high-intensity runs beyond the ball have risen from 3.9 per 90 minutes last season to 5.6 this term.
His performances also seem to have been boosted by the summer World Cup, where he played an important role in Norway’s progress to the quarter-finals. Ødegaard registered four assists, with only Michael Olise producing more at the tournament with seven.
Competition for his club position remains strong. Eberechi Eze is pushing for selection after deputising for him throughout significant portions of last season. Nevertheless, Arteta evidently favours Ødegaard centrally, possibly because of his defensive contribution, positional awareness and ability to organise Arsenal’s pressing structure during matches.
There is equal pressure on the midfielder to remain healthy. After starting 32, 37 and 35 of Arsenal’s 38 league fixtures during his first three complete seasons, he recorded only 26 starts and then 16 across the following two campaigns.
Maintaining his fitness is essential. Arsenal are a stronger side when he plays, and consistent availability should also help him sustain peak performance levels.
Ødegaard has begun the 2026-27 campaign in outstanding form. Alongside Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers, he is one of only two league players to have recorded at least 1.0 expected goals and 1.0 expected assists, demonstrating the breadth of his attacking influence.
Only seven players have contributed to more open-play sequences ending in a shot than Ødegaard’s total of 20. He also leads the league with four sequences in which he participated in the buildup before taking the final attempt himself.
Arsenal’s well-organised structure and the relative stability of their summer squad have undoubtedly helped. Yet it is difficult to determine whether that cohesion is driving Ødegaard’s form or whether his influence is creating it. Arsenal have repeatedly challenged for the league title during his time at the club, and his role in that consistency should not be overlooked.
Ødegaard appears to have rediscovered his finest form and may even be exceeding it, presenting an unsettling prospect for Arsenal’s domestic rivals.
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