Arsenal have stars everywhere you look, but who is No. 1 in the pecking order for most valuable?
Arsenal is in the middle of some outstanding form, rattling off three straight wins over Nottingham Forest, Sporting CP, and West Ham, with the Gunners now seemingly back in the title hunt.
With so many stars on the pitch, Mikel Arteta can turn to a host of players to try and get something positive rolling, but each offers something different yet valuable to the team.
There's Bukayo Saka and his ability to drive at defenders, create chances, and, most importantly, take his chances. Kai Havertz's link-up ability and being able to get on the end of flowing moves keep the score ticking over. Others in Declan Rice and Thomas Partey are good shouts, too, with their ability to dominate the middle of the park and protect the back four.
Then there are defenders Gabriel and William Saliba, who, along with Jurrien Timber, are the bedrock of what was a stout Gunners defense. Davis Raya has proved to be a solid contributor to the team, producing some outstanding saves this season.
But for GOAL.com's Sean Walsh, who did a neat little exercise in naming every Premier League team's MVP, there is only one player who takes the mantle for the Gunners - Martin Odegaard.
"If the last couple of years have taught us anything about Arsenal, it's that Martin Odegaard is the only able constructor of their harmonic orchestra," Walsh wrote. "The Gunners' title bid didn't get going in 2023-24 until he kicked back into form, and Mikel Arteta's side were completely lost without him while injured at the start of this term. The difference between Arsenal playing with and without their skipper is so stark that they go from being one of the Premier League's most unwatchable teams to the top entertainers just by having him available. Odegaard brings both tangibles and intangibles."
Martin Odegaard
Granted, this is entirely subjective as one could easily pick Saka and most would be content with that choice.
But in Odegaard, we've seen what the Gunners were, or rather, what they weren't without No. 8 in the line up and in truth, they lacked any flair, creativity and nous in the final third and it wasn't just bad, it was ugly.
It is no coincidence that Arsenal's attacking play has gone through the roof since the Norwegian has returned. The little dinks and clever passes that unlock defenses are back, and it gives the Gunners a completely different feel going forward, not to mention the confidence that Martin gives others around him to play with flair too.
Is he Arsenal's real MVP? Well, that my friends, is in the eye of the beholder - but it's not a bad choice.