Mikel Arteta’s efforts to restore Martin Odegaard’s confidence, combined with Arsenal’s overhaul of their medical and performance departments, have helped the club captain return to his best form, according to a report in The Independent.
Odegaard has made a striking start to the new campaign, scoring four times in his first five appearances after managing only one goal last season. His latest decisive contribution came in Arsenal’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Napoli on Wednesday night.
The Norway international’s resurgence has provided a major boost to Mikel Arteta’s side, particularly after Arsenal failed to make a statement signing in attack during the summer transfer window.
How Arsenal helped Martin Odegaard back to his best
Odegaard’s return has been attributed partly to Arteta’s man-management. The Independent reported that the Arsenal manager repeatedly reminded his captain of his importance while he struggled to regain full fitness.
Arteta is also understood to have encouraged Odegaard to picture himself playing a central role in the club’s biggest moments, a message designed to rebuild the confidence that had been affected by a prolonged run of injuries.
Those close to the player describe him as a “confidence player”, with his performances improving sharply when he feels fully fit and assured. That confidence has been evident in his greater willingness to shoot and take responsibility in decisive areas.
“He’s got that edge,” Arteta said after Odegaard’s recent run of form. “And now he can start to occupy some very different heights in the team, especially in the attacking phase.”
The Arsenal manager added that Odegaard was finding more advanced positions and playing with the belief that his efforts would produce a goal.
His influence extends beyond his own scoring. Odegaard remains central to Arsenal’s pressing structure and attacking combinations, helping to dictate when the team closes down opponents and which spaces his team-mates occupy.
Availability has been crucial to Odegaard’s resurgence
Odegaard’s progress has also coincided with a significant improvement in his availability. He missed 27 of Arsenal’s 63 matches last season, with the effects of an ankle injury suffered on international duty in September 2024 followed by further fitness problems.
The 27-year-old never appeared fully comfortable during large parts of the 2024-25 campaign and was unable to produce his usual influence consistently. Arsenal have since made major changes to their medical and performance teams in an effort to reduce the impact of injuries across the squad.
“In a game of small margins, the biggest difference is availability,” one source told The Independent.
Declan Rice also pointed to the burden Odegaard carried during the previous campaign, when the midfielder suffered two shoulder injuries and an MCL problem.
“That’s the Martin we know and we love,” Rice said after seeing his team-mate return to form.
For Arsenal, keeping Odegaard fit could prove as important as any new arrival. With the captain once again influencing matches, creating chances and finding the net, Arteta appears to have recovered a player capable of lifting the team’s attacking level.
