The Premier League title chase is intensifying during the festive football season, with Arsenal's aspirations kept alive thanks to Martin Odegaard. The Gunners' skipper was instrumental in their 2-1 victory over Brighton, breaking the deadlock just 14 minutes into the game.
Arsenal's high-press strategy paid off as they reclaimed possession from the Seagulls, who were attempting to build from the back. Bukayo Saka then set up Odegaard, who initially looked to aim for the far corner but swiftly redirected his shot to the near post, outwitting Bart Verbruggen.
This proved to be a pivotal moment for the Gunners, and an own goal from Georginio Rutter further extended their lead before Diego Gomez injected some tension into proceedings at the Emirates Stadium. Ultimately, Mikel Arteta's side secured another vital three points, with their captain playing a crucial role in maintaining their position at the top of the table.
The jubilations that followed underscored Odegaard's influence on the Arsenal squad, especially during a period when his productivity had been questioned. Declan Rice, in particular, highlighted the significance of the club's leader, repeatedly gesturing towards him as he faced the crowd.
This reaction reveals the team's high regard for the Norwegian playmaker and emphasises his importance in unlocking future matches for the Gunners. It's been a challenging first half of the season for the 27-year-old, who has had to contend with three separate injuries during this campaign.
Two shoulder problems disrupted his opening weeks, leading Arsenal to bring in Eberechi Eze to bolster their attacking options. An ankle issue then sidelined him further, restricting Odegaard to just 11 league appearances so far this campaign - a significant setback.
This has sparked debate about his importance to the squad, particularly after a previous season where his contributions didn't quite live up to expectations. His strike against Brighton marked his first goal of the campaign, whilst he has registered two assists across all competitions.
Just days earlier, Arteta had commended Odegaard's captaincy after he allowed Viktor Gyokeres to take a penalty in the victory over Everton. He said: "Yes I agree with that [Odegaard showed leadership].
"And as well the confidence on the player because obviously he practices every day. He's unbelievable at it and he put the ball in the back of the net. I love when players take ownership and decide what is the best decision. That's something really positive."
This represented another vote of confidence from the manager in his skipper, amid renewed speculation about whether Arsenal should have appointed a different captain.
At an Irish Independent Sport event, former Arsenal captain Tony Adams had remarked: "Every now and again as a manager, you have to put someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club that you think can actually take you to the next level.
"Declan is my kind of captain and what it might do is free up Martin Odegaard to play with more freedom. You've got someone in there that is going to play every game and lay the foundations of a title-winning team.
"Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can't. Come on Arteta, make him captain."