Odegaard 'flowing' on return to best level - Arteta

It is fair to say that up until this point, it has been a tough season for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian has had two shoulder injuries and a knee injury that meant that he has not been able to get into a rhythm of playing games and perhaps show his trademark silky performances.

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Add in the signing of Eberechi Eze and there have been discussions about whether he struggles to get into the Arsenal team.

However, in the past two matches against Brighton and Aston Villa, Odegaard has shown exactly why he is so trusted by Mikel Arteta.

The 27-year-old scored an excellent goal against Brighton to give his side the lead and then produced the type of defence-splitting pass that sets him apart to provide Martin Zubimendi with Arsenal's second in their 4-1 win over Villa.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said Odegaard is now returning to the level at which he usually operates.

"Well, he needed some consistency as well." Arteta said. "Obviously, he had two injuries - a shoulder then a big knee injury and that takes a little bit of time.

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"Now you can see that he is flowing, that his energy level is back to where it is, that he is taking risks and that he is affecting the game in a great way.

"I thought he played really well."