Published: September 8, 2021 6:15 pm
Last Updated: September 8, 2021 6:22 pm
The creative numbers racked up by Arsenal star Martin Odegaard versus Gibraltar on Tuesday night have since turned heads across the club’s fanbase.
Gunners struggling
The opening weeks of the new campaign have of course proven altogether calamitous on the red half of North London.
Despite have splashed out considerably during the summer, Mikel Arteta’s men have thus far failed to rack up a solitary Premier League point, on the back of a trio of fixtures.
First came a 2-0 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Brentford, before a similar result was forthcoming in a home meeting with capital rivals Chelsea.
And last up, last weekend, was a frankly embarrassing 5-0 drubbing at the hands of champions Manchester City.
Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacts to City’s third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on August 28, 2021 (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal, in turn, sit dead bottom of the Premier League table, without even a goal to their name.
Odegaard shining
This weekend, though, will see the perfect opportunity provided for Arteta and co. to get things back on track.
This comes with the Gunners set to play host to Norwich City – also without a point on the board in the English top-flight – on Saturday afternoon.
And, as outlined above, ahead of the Emirates showdown, one of Arsenal’s summer additions, on Tuesday, reminded fans of the club of exactly what he could well bring to the table not only in three days’ time, but moving forward as a whole.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal reacts after conceding during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The player in question? Martin Odegaard.
Norwegian midfielder Odegaard of course sealed a return to the Emirates late last month, this time on a permanent basis, after a somewhat hit-and-miss spell on loan in the English capital over the 2nd half of last season.
He has already notched an assist across two appearances back in the colours of Mikel Arteta’s men, en route to a 6-0 League Cup drubbing of West Brom.
And, 24 hours ago, Odegaard’s creative abilities were on full display once again.
Norway welcomed Gibraltar to Olso on Tuesday, for the nation’s latest World Cup qualifier.
And though it was Erling Haaland who ultimately stole the show courtesy of a hat-trick in the Norwegians’ 5-1 victory, Odegaard too caught the eye for all the right reasons, racking up no fewer than 12 key passes over the course of the 90 minutes:
Martin Ødegaard made 12 key passes for Norway against Gibraltar tonight. Conductor. 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/Fh9AdvgCLf
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) September 7, 2021
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | West Ham United | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 4 | Chelsea FC | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 7 | Manchester City | 3 | 9 | 6 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 3 | -1 | 6 |
| 10 | Brentford FC | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | Watford FC | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 13 | Southampton FC | 3 | -2 | 2 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 3 | -4 | 2 |
| 16 | Burnley FC | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 18 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 19 | Norwich City | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 20 | Arsenal FC | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 2 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 2 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 2 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 2 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 1 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 1 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 1 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Schar, Fabian | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 2 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 2 |
| Djenepo, Moussa | Southampton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Cantwell, Todd | Norwich City | 0 | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 0 | 1 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 0 | 1 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 | 0 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 0 | 1 |
| Grealish, Jack | Manchester City | 0 | 1 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 0 | 1 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 0 | 1 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 1 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 1 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 1 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 1 |
| Grealish, Jack | Manchester City | 1 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 1 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 1 |
| Murphy, Jacob | Newcastle United | 1 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 1 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 1 |
