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.

Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Arsenal goal as Mikel Arteta’s side beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 to secure a first Premier League win since October 5. Arsenal had the ball in net after five minutes when Jurrien Timber bundled in from a free-kick but Mikel Merino was judged to be offside from the initial header.

Martin Odegaard was back to his brilliant best as the free-flowing Gunners skipper helped inspire Mikel Arteta's side to a comfortable victory over high-flying Forest

LONDON - Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal team "flows in a different way" when Martin Odegaard is playing after the Gunners crushed Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Satu

Their first game back after the September international break was the north London derby against Tottenham. In his pre-match press conference, Arteta refused to rule his captain out entirely, saying simply, “Players with 48 hours to go are always available, but let’s see what happens.”

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.

The absence of creativity in the final third has been Arsenal’s significant downfall, as was evident against Newcastle and subsequently against Inter Milan. Watching Arsenal versus Chelsea, however, there was a noticeable difference; suddenly, Arsenal’s attack appeared vibrant; it was just a matter of missed opportunities.

While Martin Odegaard is fit, Arsenal will feel they still have hope in this season’s Premier League title race. It may have been Bukayo Saka, substitute Thomas Partey and teenager Ethan Nwaneri who netted the goals that secured a first League win in five games for the Gunners.