Arsenal’s improved form after Odegaard’s return ‘not a coincidence’, says Arteta

Mikel Arteta insisted it was “no coincidence” that Martin Odegaard's presence led Arsenal to a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in one of their best performances of the season.

Arsenal's victory was their 2,000th in English top-flight history, making them only the second team to reach this milestone after Liverpool (2,068).

Odegaard has been sidelined since September with an ankle injury sustained while on international duty with Norway.

He returned to the starting line-up last time out against Chelsea and now has two assists from two since his return after setting up Bukayo Saka for the opener against Forest.

Arsenal ran out comfortable winners after Thomas Partey and Ethan Nwaneri extended their lead and Arteta is convinced his captain's influence helped.

“It's no coincidence. The team flows in a different way when [Odegaard] plays,” he told BBC MOTD.

“I think we started really well. The feeling I got in the last 48 hours after the international break, the boys came together and were all into it.

“It was good to see the impact of the substitutes [Thomas Partey – goal; Ethan Nwaneri – goal; Raheem Sterling – assist]. Everyone should feel important. It was a good afternoon.”

Bukayo Saka opens the scoring for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

That is the first Premier League goal Saka and Martin Ødegaard have scored together since February (a Saka goal assisted by Ødegaard). pic.twitter.com/SJVzeAEknw

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 23, 2024

Partey grabbed Arsenal's second just seven minutes after taking the field, curling from outside the penalty area into the left corner following Arteta's half-time substitution for Jorginho.

Four of Partey's seven Premier League goals have come from outside the box. Of all Arsenal players to score more than five goals in the league, he is the only one to score more than half from outside the penalty area.

Arteta had particular praise for fellow goalscorer Nwaneri, who became Arsenal's second-youngest ever Premier League goalscorer at 17 years and 247 days, behind only Cesc Fabregas in August 2004 (17 years and 113 days).

'He's the second youngest [Premier League goalscorer] in our history. That's a story in itself. He is brave. You see the reaction of the fans and they were singing 'he's one of our own',” the Arsenal boss added.

“I think we have to lay brick by brick and make sure the cement doesn't dry out. Hopefully we can build something beautiful together with him.”

Arsenal outscored their opponents and led them on expected goals (xG) with a total of 1.4 compared to Forest's 0.4 xG.

“On a day like this you have to be solid defensively and take your chances. In the end it wasn't good enough and it was three relatively easy goals for them,” James Ward-Prowse told Sky Sports.

“We will have to improve our defensive structure.”