Arsenal’s recent performance against Nottingham Forest highlighted the transformative impact of having both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka fit and firing. After a challenging period without their captain,

Your team has hit a creative rut that coincided with the absence of your primary playmaker? Get him back and all your problems evaporate. So yes, the semi-frequent leaden-footed attacking, sterile possession and clumsy decision-making that reared its unfamiliar head at Arsenal over the last two months was nothing more than a team unable to cope without Martin Odegaard.

Odegaard and Saka combined beautifully for Arsenal’s opening goal, with the latter’s quick feet in the box facilitating a slick give-and-go. Saka did the rest, mazing his way across the box before lashing the ball into the top corner.

On his own, Martin Odegaard is an exceptionally good footballer. The same is patently true of Bukayo Saka. Both players are undoubtedly among the very best in the Premier League.For Arsenal, though, the real beauty of having these two is that they are even better when they are together.

Arsenal struck gold with the signing of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid. Back in August 2021, the Gunners managed to sign the Norway international for just £30m – having initially taken him on a loan deal in January 2021.