Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta’s secret weapon undone as Martin Odegaard influence laid bare

Arsenal are in Portugal tonight for their Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon and Mikel Arteta's side will be full of confidence after Saturday's comprehensive win at home to Nottingham Forest.

Captain Martin Odegaard's return from his ankle injury appears to have rejuvenated the Gunners, with the manager and his teammates showering the Norwegian with praise after the weekend's victory.

However, the Gunners' great strength in recent years may be weakened as their skill in the game is negated by many opponents catching up to their plans.

Here are the big stories from and around the Emirates worth keeping an eye on.

Martin Odegaard was hailed as the glue that binds Arsenal together after his first home appearance since August delivered handsome rewards, with Riccardo Calafiori claiming: “If he's missing, we feel it.”

The captain created six chances in 81 brilliant minutes, with his return from an ankle injury seemingly propelling Bukayo Saka back to his best.

Mikel Arteta claimed that few players can match Odegaard's “fluidity, understanding, chemistry, timing”, adding: “When he is in the team you can feel something that is different. “It's hard to put your finger on it, but it's different.”

Last season, Arsenal scored 22 set goals in the league, 16 of which between them came from corners, and their towering cast has reaped the benefits of schemes that have many similarities to American football and basketball.

Early in Saturday's defeat to Nottingham Forest it looked like another set-piece goal had been scored when Odegaard whipped in a free-kick for Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber cleared the ball – but it was ruled out for marginal offside.

But Arsenal are on four points in the league so far, level with 10 other sides, and they have scored one in the Champions League ahead of Tuesday's visit to Sporting Lisbon.

Former Arsenal star Nicklas Bendtner was involved in a horrific stabbing while with friends in New York last week.

A friend of the former Denmark striker was injured, with CCTV footage of the incident showing the moments just before the attack was carried out.

Bendtner, 36, was walking down a street on Manhattan's Upper West Side with three other people last Thursday when a man wearing a T-shirt and shorts ran toward them from behind while holding a knife before ran back in the direction he came from. seconds later.

According to local media, 25-year-old Joshua Zinberg was arrested on Friday and charged with attempted murder and assault. According to reports, he was reported by his own mother.