Martin Ødegaard continued his sensational start to the 2026/27 season with a stunning left-footed strike to give Arsenal a 1-0 win over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League campaign.
Victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples extended Arsenal's perfect record in the new campaign and Ødegaard has been at the forefront of their successes by conducting the Gunners attack and contributing timely goals.
Ødegaard's form is of a stark contrast to the previous season, where persistent knee and shoulder issues resulted in the Norwegian playmaker struggling for consistency as Arsenal went on to claim the Premier League title.
The Gunners captain scored one goal and registered seven assists in 36 appearances for Mikel Arteta last term, which was a measly total by his toweing standards. When he was available, he was used sparingly, and when he was on the pitch the former Real Madrid midfielder struggled to carve the desired impact.
Refreshed and recharged ahead of Norway's first World Cup appearance in 28 years, Ødegaard produced the calibre of performances that used to have Arsenal supporters purring prior to his recurring injury woes. He played a key role in Norway reaching the quarter-finals in North America, and only France's Michael Olise registered more assists in the tournament than Ødegaard.
Upon returning to club football, Ødegaard has found another gear and it's resulted in him being cut from 25/1 into 10/1 to be named 2026/27 PFA Player of the Year.
The 27-year-old set the tone with a masterful performance against Manchester City in the Community Shield, capped off by an outrageous final goal to complete a comprehensive 3-0 triumph over Enzo Maresca's Citizens.
Ødegaard scored again in Arsenal's opening match of their Premier League title defence against Coventry City, and he delivered the winner in a hard-fought victory over Chelsea with an impeccably timed run, collecting Christos Tzolis' pass following Kai Havertz's intelligent dummy before lifting it over Emiliano Martinez.
Consistently getting into more advanced positions, a revitalised Ødegaard has diminished concerns around Arsenal's attacking output following an end to the transfer window where Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus departed and no reinforcements were signed.
When Havertz drops deep in his false nine role, Ødegaard is making the runs in behind to stretch opposition defences. According to Opta, only the Norwegian and Chelsea's Morgan Rogers have recorded at least 1.0 xG (expected goals) and 1.0 xA (expected assists) across the opening three Premier League fixtures, which is evidence of his persistent threat in the final third.
When Ødegaard is on song, Arsenal appear a more fluid and dangerous outfit.
The Gunners' remarkable defensive proficiency will be key in their quest for silverware in the 2026/27 campaign, but if Arsenal can keep Ødegaard fit and he can sustain this level of performance, the skipper will be in line for a number of individual accolades at the end of the season.
Martin Ødegaard's 2026/27 Premier League Odds
PFA Player of the Year
(Odds will display when markets are available).
