Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard delivered a masterclass in midfield precision as the Gunners secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Olympiacos in their latest UEFA Champions League outing. Drawing high praise from former Manchester United star Owen Hargreaves, Odegaard’s pinpoint passing and intelligent playmaking left fans and pundits alike in awe, with Hargreaves describing the Norwegian’s performance as “ridiculous” and “surgical.”
Odegaard Orchestrates Arsenal’s European Triumph
Arsenal continued their dominant Champions League form with a 2-0 win against Olympiacos, thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. But it was Martin Odegaard who stole the spotlight with a commanding performance from midfield, setting the tempo and unlocking the Greek defense with ease.
The first breakthrough came in the 12th minute when Odegaard split the defense with a sublime through ball to Viktor Gyökeres. Though the striker’s effort hit the post, Martinelli pounced on the rebound to give Arsenal an early lead.
Odegaard nearly doubled his assist tally before the break with another expertly-weighted pass, though Gyökeres was unable to convert. However, the Arsenal skipper eventually got his reward in stoppage time, slipping a beautifully measured ball into the path of Saka, who finished through the legs of the Olympiacos goalkeeper to seal the result.
Hargreaves: “Odegaard Was Playing Like a Surgeon”
Speaking on TNT Sports after the match, Owen Hargreaves was effusive in his praise for Odegaard, calling him the best player on the pitch “by a country mile.”
“In the first half, he was absolutely unplayable,” Hargreaves said. “This ball is ridiculous by the way. You played a few in the first half that were just silly. You played like a surgeon—it was so precise.”
The former England international went on to hail Odegaard’s creativity and control, asserting that performances like these show exactly why he remains Arsenal’s most vital player.
Odegaard: “I’ve Missed This—It Felt Good”
In a post-match interview alongside the TNT Sports panel, Odegaard reflected on the match and his own standout display.
“It was nice to be back. I’ve missed it and I felt good—it was a good win,” said the Norwegian international. “We work a lot on our fluidity and creating chances. We know our strength at the back, so if we can find that flow going forward, it’s going to pay off.”
Odegaard also praised his connection with Arsenal’s attacking players, particularly new signing Viktor Gyökeres. “That’s my job—to create for them. Viktor is so aggressive and always a threat. I could’ve had a few more assists, but I really enjoyed it.”
