Odegaard's new role: Arteta credits fitness and positioning for Arsenal captain's transformation
Martin Odegaard scored his fourth goal in five appearances this season as Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mikel Arteta says the captain's improved form is down to better fitness and a new, more advanced role.
- Match: Napoli 0-1 Arsenal, Champions League group stage
- Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
- Key moment: Odegaard's thumping 29-pass move goal, his second winning strike in a row
- Odegaard's form: 4 goals in 5 games this season, after only 1 in 36 last term
- Stats: Touches in opposition box up from 2.5 to 4.3 per 90 minutes
Confirmed line-ups
The source does not include specific team line-ups for this match, but it mentions that summer signing Christos Tzolis is likely one of the players Arteta referenced for progressing the ball.
Selection notes
Odegaard was available after an injury-hit 2025/26 campaign. The source does not name any other players in the starting XI or substitutes.
What was said
"First of all he needs to be available and last year he missed so many games through injuries."
"He's got that edge and different relationships around him as well and that helps."
"He can start to go by different heights in the team, especially in the attacking phase, and when we get him into those positions he's a really dangerous player."
"We have a lot of players that can take the ball there and progress the ball much better than we did in the past. When that happens, [Odegaard] needs to take different heights and angles and positions in order to disorganise the opponent and he's done that really well."
"That's what we need. The players with the mindset to decide a game and play with personality. To keep taking chances and risks."
"He's getting into those positions much more in recent games and now you feel he has the emotional state that he knows the ball can go in, and he scored an incredible goal tonight."
"Martin is contributing goals. That is obviously impacting results which is what we want from our attacking players, to be decisive, and certainly he was that today."
Arteta clearly believes Odegaard's improved fitness and the addition of players like Christos Tzolis have unlocked his captain's attacking potential. The new combinations allow Odegaard to drift into dangerous areas, where he is proving decisive.
The numbers
- Odegaard has scored 4 goals in 5 appearances this season across all competitions.
- He scored only once in the 2025/26 campaign, which was injury-hit.
- Touches in the opposition box: up from 2.5 per 90 minutes last season to 4.3 per 90 this season.
- Arsenal had 26 shots against Napoli – their most on record since 2003/04 in the Champions League.
- Arsenal's expected goals total was 4.05, suggesting they should have scored more.
- Tzolis has four assists already, three for Odegaard goals, including the winner in Naples.
Analysis: Why Odegaard is thriving in a deeper-lying creative role
Arteta's tweak is subtle but significant. Odegaard used to receive the ball higher up the pitch, but with new signings like Christos Tzolis able to progress the ball from deep, Odegaard can now roam into different positions. He drops into pockets of space, drags defenders out of shape, and arrives late in the box to finish moves.
The stats back it up: his touches in the box have nearly doubled. He is not just a playmaker anymore; he is a goal threat. Against Napoli, he had more touches, passes, and chances created than anyone else. His goal came from a 29-pass move, showing his patience and timing.
This role suits his intelligent movement. He is harder to mark because he starts deeper and attacks the box at the right moment. With players like Tzolis providing the final ball, Odegaard is now the finisher as well as the creator.
Talking points
- Is Odegaard's transformation mainly due to fitness, or is the new role the key factor? Arteta credits both.
- Can Odegaard keep up this scoring rate, or will teams adapt to nullify his late runs?
- Are Arsenal now more dangerous in the final third with Tzolis delivering for Odegaard?
- Will Odegaard's improved form make him a contender for Player of the Season?
What happens next
Odegaard and Arsenal will aim to continue their winning momentum when they return to Premier League action. The Gunners next face Chelsea, the team they beat on Sunday with Odegaard scoring the winner. Arsenal will look to extend their lead at the top.
Frequently asked questions
What is Martin Odegaard's new role at Arsenal?
According to Mikel Arteta, Odegaard now starts deeper and makes late runs into the opposition box, using new relationships with team-mates to get into dangerous attacking positions.
How many goals has Martin Odegaard scored this season?
Odegaard has scored four goals in five appearances across all competitions this season, including the winner against Napoli and the clinching goal versus Chelsea.
Why is Odegaard performing better this season?
Arteta says Odegaard's improved fitness and the presence of players like Christos Tzolis, who can progress the ball, allow him to take up more advanced positions and be more effective.
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