Arsenal defender William Saliba is under no illusions as to how important skipper Martin Odegaard is to the team.
Call it a coincidence or call it luck, but there can be no denying Arsenal's resurgence has coincided with the return of skipper Martin Odegaard from injury.
The Gunners were struggling to keep their heads above water prior to the international break, having gone four games in the league without a win, leaving their title hopes somewhat in trouble.
But in what is an ironic twist, the international break, often the source of Gunners heartbreak, gave the likes of Odegaard time to get healthy - and the results have been superb.
Odegaard was influential against Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 win, and then in the 5-1 demolition of Sporting CP in the Champions League league phase, Odegaard was a wizard around the box in the first half.
Such was the skipper's influence, that defender William Saliba knows just how important it is to have the Norwegian fully fit again.
“I think he’s one of the best midfielders in the world and we are so happy to have him back," Saliba said. "We are better with him so I hope he won’t get injured again. Of course, we have to enjoy playing with him. We can see since he’s back we are better.
“He’s top three [in the world]. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but I think top three. I love this guy. He worked hard at the training ground so I’m not surprised that he came back [from injury] like this but of course, it’s not easy when you haven’t played for four weeks to come back at this level. I’m not in shock, he’s a top professional.”
🗣 "He was a boy wonder when he first came on the scene but he's had to work."
🗣 "He's a real top player in world football now."
Damien Delaney & Brian Kerr on Martin Odegaard after a stunning display for Arsenal tonight. #Arsenal | #UCL pic.twitter.com/oVjvIZhJE2
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 26, 2024
With Arsenal slipping behind the likes of Liverpool and the ailing Manchester City in Odegaard's absence, now, there is a fresh injection of hope and confidence that the Gunners get back to the level that saw them not lose in their first seven league games.
Bukayo Saka looms to one key beneficiary of Odegaard's return as the pair were scintillating against Sporting midweek, and now they must continue that form in the league.
While it is still a nine-point gap between themselves and Liverpool, but that doesn't seem that formiddable anymore. Why?
Because Arsenal's skipper is here to propel his team back to where some think they belong - the summit of English football.