Odegaard Finds Best Performance, Arsenal Ready To Go Further In The Champions League

Martin Odegaard has found his best form again, the field general Arsenal who is ready to give the title (Instagram/@odegaard.98).

JAKARTA - Mikel Arteta said Martin Odegaard showed signs of rediscovering his best form after appearing impressive in a 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Thursday, October 2, 2025, early morning WIB.

Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring after just 12 minutes. Despite dominating the game, the Gunners had to wait until injury time before scoring a second goal when captain Odegaard fed substitute Bukayo Saka to finish from inside the penalty box.

Odegaard appeared influential as a substitute in the final minutes of last weekend's dramatic win at home to Newcastle United and continued the performance by putting himself at the heart of Arsenal's best game against the Greek representative.

"He has all the freedom in the world to move forward. Martin plays with that freedom and plays with that level of threat in particular, not only with bait, but also the way he carries the ball, runs, and arrives in a very dangerous area."

"I think he passed three players today to score. He should have scored too. So, happy he's back."

"He played very well at Newcastle to help us win the game. I think today he is phenomenal."

"I think creativity is in its nature. It doesn't put any pressure on it because it's his best ability to produce things not many players can do."

"He has the full freedom of my team to explore, take risks, and feel the movement in which he needs to create those spaces. I think he's done it in the last two games," said Arteta.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Magalhaes had to be pulled out in the final minutes of injury, but Arteta dismissed fitness concerns ahead of the match against West Ham this weekend.

"I think he's going to be fine. He felt something, I'm not sure, in the first half. He was a bit uncomfortable and just before the second half he was already there."

"He can continue, but we decided not to take any risks because he has played many games. He has also just recovered from a long-term injury. We need to look after him," said Arteta.

Arteta added that Arsenal's overall power makes them better prepared to go further in the Champions League this season.

The Gunners reached last season's semifinals before being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain who eventually won.

"With all due respect, last season we saw (backUP), we had five academy players there, who may have never played professional football in the Champions League. So, that makes the difference."

"Today we decided to change six players because I wanted everyone to be really involved and feel like part of it. It was amazing."

"We also feel physically we are declining because we played very intensely at Newcastle a few days ago."

"The players who returned to play, they leveled up the game and helped us win the game. That was incredible," said the Spaniard.