Martin Odegaard delivered a masterclass in Arsenal’s 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City, giving a clear signal that the Norwegian playmaker is ready to dominate again.
The Gunners captain had a frustrating 2025-26 season, with knee and shoulder issues limiting him to just 16 Premier League starts. His return of one goal and seven assists was his weakest since his loan move from Real Madrid became permanent in 2021-22.
In Cardiff, though, Odegaard reminded everyone of his quality. He hit 55 of 58 passes, completed all three of his dribbles, and regained possession nine times. His performance was capped with a clever finish for the third goal, leaving City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded.
Odegaard and Arsenal raise the bar
Odegaard was the driving force in the early stages of Mikel Arteta’s project at Arsenal, but injuries dulled his impact last term. Now fully fit, his return could feel like a brand new signing for the manager.
The midfield picture has also become more competitive. Arsenal added Bruno Guimaraes for £75m, and he caught the eye during his 45-minute outing against City.
Mikel Merino has called the Arsenal midfield unit “probably the finest in football”, with Odegaard, Guimaraes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Merino all fighting for minutes.
Nobody has ever doubted Odegaard’s talent, though his consistency was questioned last season. Former players also debated whether he should keep the captaincy, making his commanding display in the Community Shield all the more meaningful.
Arsenal skipper driven by a tough year
Odegaard admitted the previous campaign was a nightmare, as a string of injuries stopped him from finding any sort of rhythm.
“Last year was a real battle with so many tough moments,” he said. “Missing that many games through injury was incredibly frustrating.”
The midfielder called being sidelined “the worst feeling for any player” and said he endured some strange injuries and misfortune. Ending the season with silverware and then registering four assists in five World Cup starts for Norway gave him a brighter finish to a dark period.
Now, Odegaard is using those struggles as fuel.
“What I have focused on is turning that into motivation for this season and coming back stronger,” he said. “And using every one of those experiences in a positive way.”
His showing against City suggests that mindset is already paying off.
Guimaraes raises the stakes in midfield
Odegaard and Guimaraes seemed to click instantly during their first game together. The Norwegian felt the pair found their connection naturally.
“Sometimes you just get into a flow. You have to find that on the pitch,” Odegaard said. “Everyone was clicking pretty well out there. I will just try to keep that going.”
The added competition could be exactly what Odegaard needs as Arsenal gear up for the new campaign. With so many midfielders vying for spots, staying at his peak will be vital after a year where injuries halted his progress.
For Arteta, having his captain fit and available is a huge boost.
Arteta predicts a new-look Odegaard
Arteta believes the long spells out of action made it nearly impossible for Odegaard to gather any real momentum last season.
“He missed five or six months for various reasons, and it was very hard for him to build any kind of rhythm,” the Arsenal boss said.
Arteta expects the midfielder to look like a different player if he can stay healthy and benefit from the quality around him. He has also noticed a renewed hunger from Odegaard since pre-season began.
“So I am confident that if we can keep him fit and available with the players around him, we will see a very different Martin,” Arteta said.
The Community Shield was an encouraging first look at that version of Odegaard. If he can maintain the level he showed against Manchester City, Arsenal may have a rejuvenated captain ready to make a serious impact once more.