Arsenal verdict: Gunners being guided to first Premier League title in nearly 20 years by captain fantastic Odegaard
EYEBROWS were raised when Martin Odegaard was named as skipper ahead of the season.
Both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had left the club in quick succession and Mikel Arteta needed a new leader for his pack.
But you’d struggle to find any Gunners fan across the globe that doesn’t think the Norwegian should be wearing the armband right now.
And if anyone thought the break for the World Cup was going to stop Odegaard in his tracks, he’s already put that suggestion to bed.
He pulled the strings to inspire the comeback against West Ham, setting up goals for Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah.
Five days later, the classy operator was back at it again on the South Coast – coming up with the goods when his team needed him most.
This time he scored the second to send Arsenal into the break with a crucial two-goal advantage.
But his finest piece of work on the night came when Arteta’s men needed a calm head and a bit of quality.
They’d just conceded to make it 3-1 and were slightly under the cosh.
But Odegaard’s exquisite first-time pass set Gabriel Martinelli away to restore their three-goal lead and calm any growing nerves from the away end.
That’s now seven goals and five assists in the Prem with the 12 contributions already beating his tally from the whole of last season.
And if his outstanding form continues, he’s surely on route to join Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira in captaining Arsenal to the Premier League.
It’s approaching 19 years since the North Londoners lifted English football’s biggest prize.
But with Arteta’s men going from strength to strength and those below them faltering with every passing week, what seemed like a dream in August is quickly becoming a reality.