Martin Odegaard is to Arsenal what Cole Palmer is to Chelsea: he is the most important player in the Premier League.
Martin Odegaard is everything to Arsenal: he is at the heart of everything positive they do.
That is the vision of gunners legend Martin Keown, who believes the Norwegian playmaker is possibly the most important player for a Premier League club.
odegaard He made his long-awaited return in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea before the November international break.
It was his first top-flight appearance since August 31 after suffering ankle ligament damage in international service at the beginning of September.
In the 25-year-old's absence, Arsenal have won just three of seven Premier League games, with Mikel ArtetaMen seriously lack creativity.
Heralded for their fluid attacking football over the past two years, Arsenal faced criticism for having struggled to find fluidity, resulting in a negative approach.
This led to the famous cries of “Boring, boring Arsenal” being uttered at North Londoners, whose title aspirations have suffered without Odegaard.
They are currently nine points behind the leaders Liverpool having failed to win any of their four games after the October break.
And if anyone ever doubted Odegaard's importance to Arsenal, his dazzling performance against Chelsea was proof that he is vital for the club to achieve any kind of success.
It was Odegaard who provided the assist for Gabriel Martinelli's first goal in the 60th minute, finding the Brazilian with a sumptuous lofted pass from the edge of the area.
Gooners, and three-time Premier League champions Keown, hope the midfielder's return will see the club rise from fourth in the table.
But the question remains whether Arsenal need to spend money to get a lethal finisher.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com about whether that should be a priority for Arteta, Keown said: “I think that becomes obvious when Odegaard is unavailable.
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“The creativity he created was very significant, it will be like removing Cole Palmer from the Chelsea team if we take into account how well Odegaard did.
“I think, firstly, coming back from being away for six weeks and starting to work like he did shows how he has applied himself when he has been away.
“He set up Arsenal's goal, it was great to see Martinelli score it, but lately we have become predictable around the opposition's goal.
“And maybe that's the first thing on the shopping list for a striker, but actually the problem for Arsenal so far this season has been discipline and injuries.”
He added: “Now that Odegaard is back, I think the way he played (against Chelsea) deserves praise.
“Being out for so long shows how hard-working he is, he started running, he created the goal.
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“Arteta will be praying and hoping that luck changes.”
Arsenal Invincible Keown then spoke about how important Odegaard is to the Emirates squad, comparing his situation to RodriThe injury.
city of manchester Midfielder Rodri suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September, while Pep Guardiola's men are currently on a four-match losing streak.
Keown commented: “Arsenal are not winning close games this season, they did last year, Inter Milan being one of them, losing the game unfortunately with a controversial decision against them.
“They scored 91 (Premier League) goals last season, but most of that was in and around Odegaard.
“And (Smile) Smith Rowe was allowed to leave (to join Fulham) because Odegaard, two years without even missing a game, and lo and behold Smith Rowe left with our blessing.
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“But now you can see that if he (Arteta) had had it, it could have been useful, (Ethan) Nwaneri is maybe six months away from where the coach wants him to be.
“So it's slowed him down a bit, he's a really good talent so the timing isn't really helping from Arsenal's point of view.
“But it's one of those where the coach says, 'Well, you have to show your teeth, you have to go out to the next game and it has to be three points, and it has to be six or seven.' Now there are games where “You really put pressure on Liverpool.”
“Odegaard created 102 chances (last season), more than anyone else in the Premier League and won the ball back in the final third 41 times.
“So, in and out of possession, I struggle to think of a more important player in the Premier League.
“It's a shame to say it can't be about one player, but we could look at Manchester City and say no Rodri has created this spiral effect.
“Players are sometimes irreplaceable and Odegaard has been for Arsenal.”
In a boost for Arsenal, Odegaard will be fit and ready to face Nottingham Forest after the break after withdrawing from Norway's Nations League clashes against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.
And you can be sure that he will work hard to make up for lost time.
