EYEBROWS were raised when Martin Odegaard was named Arsenal captain ahead of this season.
But you’d struggle to find any Gunners supporter across the globe that doesn’t think the Norwegian should be wearing the armband right now.
And if anyone thought the World Cup was going to stop Odegaard in his tracks, he’s already put that suggestion to bed.
His brace at Wolves prior to the break gave Arsenal a five-point advantage over Manchester City.
He then proved he wasn’t in any mood to relinquish that gap by pulling the strings to inspire the comeback against West Ham on Boxing Day.
And five days later the classy operator was back at it again – coming up with the goods when his team badly needed him on the South Coast.
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Following Saka’s opener, he scored Arsenal’s second to send them into the break with a crucial two-goal advantage.
But his finest piece of work on the night came when Mikel Arteta’s men needed a calm head and a bit of quality.
They’d just conceded to make it 3-1 and were slightly under the cosh with Brighton threatening a comeback.
But Odegaard’s exquisite first-time pass set Gabriel Martinelli away to restore their three-goal lead and calm any growing nerves from the away end.
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That’s now seven goals and five assists in the Prem with the 12 contributions already beating his tally from the whole of last season.
And if his outstanding form continues, he’s surely on route to join Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira in captaining Arsenal to the Premier League.
It’s approaching 19 years since the North Londoners lifted English football’s biggest prize.
But with Arteta’s men going from strength to strength and those below them faltering with every passing week, what seemed like a dream in August is quickly becoming a reality.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
