On Wednesday night, Arsenal displayed the dynamic, attacking football their fans and critics desired. The Gunners played with speed, quickly moving the ball forward for Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli to challenge the Olympiacos defense. While better finishing would have secured an easier victory for Mikel Arteta`s team, who endured some nervous moments and missed chances, they ultimately sealed the win with Bukayo Saka`s late goal after Martinelli`s opener.
Predictably, Arsenal`s resurgence coincided with Martin Odegaard`s return to the starting lineup, marking his first full half of football since the season`s opening weekend. This season, meant to be his dominant comeback year, has been plagued by frustrating false starts. Despite an ankle injury, Odegaard has shown glimpses of his former self whenever he`s played, but he undoubtedly craved more than brief appearances at St. James` Park or against Nottingham Forest to truly demonstrate his capabilities.
Odegaard immediately made his presence felt. His precise through ball enabled Gyokeres to penetrate the Olympiacos defense, creating chaos between the center-backs. Although Kostas Tzolakis saved Gyokeres` initial shot onto the post, Martinelli was there to score the rebound. Despite several subsequent missed opportunities, including two by Odegaard himself when presented with clear chances, the captain once again provided the decisive pass, setting up Saka`s low shot that found its way past the goalkeeper.
This match felt like Arsenal flirted with danger. With 16 shots and 2.73 expected goals, it should have been a more straightforward victory.
Ultimately, Odegaard`s creative sparks were crucial in deciding an unnecessarily close game. While his invention is familiar, what truly stood out was his increased willingness to attempt ambitious, game-changing passes. As captain, Odegaard typically dictates a slower, more controlled tempo, which in recent seasons has involved Arsenal dominating the final third, with Odegaard orchestrating play alongside Bukayo Saka, meticulously exploiting defensive weaknesses.
This slower approach benefits Saka, but it might not fully unleash Gyokeres, who thrived as a potent striker for Sporting in Portugal and Europe when provided with quick service. Recognizing this, Odegaard adapted his play. Whenever space appeared in the Olympiacos lines, he surged forward, demanded the ball from David Raya, and swiftly launched it into dangerous areas with his first touch. With a shoulder drop and a deft flick, Odegaard`s vision connected with Gyokeres` run, delivering a curling pass that bypassed four defenders. If Gyokeres had then passed to Martinelli, a second goal would have come much sooner, though Martinelli had also opted to go it alone shortly before.
In his quest for decisive passes, Odegaard displayed a greater willingness to risk possession than usual. Throughout his Arsenal career, the Norwegian midfielder, a traditional number 10, boasts an 87% pass completion rate, valuing ball retention. However, in the first half of this game, where his attacking impact was most pronounced, his pass completion dropped to 77%. This statistical dip was positive, as it indicated a more adventurous approach that successfully unleashed Gyokeres and Martinelli in ways that a more conservative, patient build-up against a deep defense might not have.
Arteta commented on this shift: “I think we have to play to our strengths, and with a front three possessing such pace and intelligent runs, players can activate them. We must do that 100 percent. He [Odegaard] demonstrated it at Newcastle a few times in 15 minutes, and that`s the kind of play I expect from him.”
Arteta added, “He has complete freedom from me to explore, take risks, and anticipate movement off the ball. He needs to create those spaces, and I believe he has certainly done that in the last two matches.”
Arteta`s clear desire for this type of play from Odegaard is telling. Like many elite teams this season, Arsenal appears committed to a faster, more direct attacking approach, aiming to bypass opponent presses and deliver the ball into dangerous zones before defenses can properly organize. This strategy, reminiscent of their early-season victory against Manchester United, saw their attack consistently threatening.
Arsenal`s direct speed – the rate at which they advance the ball towards the opponent`s goal per second – registered at 1.71 in this match. This is a notable increase from their average of 1.12 over the past two Premier League seasons, which was below the league average. While this more “basketball-like” style might occasionally expose the defense, with Arsenal`s quality defenders and incisive attackers, it`s clear why Arteta is embracing this tactical evolution.
Based on this performance, it`s evident that Odegaard can flourish in this system. And any strategy that encourages his aggressive, incisive passing is highly promising for Arsenal`s success.
