27-Year-Old Odegaard Explodes with 4 Goals, Former Star: He Is Playing the Happiest Football

Arsenal secured a 1-0 away win over Napoli, extending their perfect start to five victories in all competitions this season. The only goal was scored by captain Odegaard.

His form dropped significantly last season, when he scored just one goal in all competitions. So far this season, the 27-year-old midfielder has already scored four goals. The same player, two different faces.

Former star speaks out: Watching him from age 15 until now

Former player and current football media figure Jan Aage Fjortoft praised Odegaard's current style of play in a post on X, calling him a “complete” footballer who appears to be playing with great enjoyment.

Fjortoft wrote: “I have had the privilege of watching Martin Odegaard closely since he was 15 years old, and I genuinely do not think I have seen him play better than he has during this World Cup and the opening stages of this season.”

“He is a complete footballer: vision, intelligence, running, leadership, and an incredible understanding of the game. But the most outstanding thing is that he still plays with enormous joy. He is now at the peak of his ability.”

Such praise carries significant weight, and Arsenal fans and neutral supporters would probably share the same feeling.

Like a new signing

Arsenal targeted several big-name attacking players this summer, but ultimately missed out on players such as Vinicius Junior, Morgan Rogers and Julian Alvarez.

However, with Odegaard returning to his best form, former Arsenal player Paul Merson's comment may prove accurate — for Mikel Arteta's team, this is almost like a new signing worth £100 million.

Merson said: “Odegaard is back to the player he was two years ago, like a £100 million signing.”

If Odegaard can maintain this form and once again become the midfielder who contributes double-digit goals — as he did in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons — then we will certainly see a very different Arsenal this season.

Last season, this North London powerhouse had to fight hard for the Premier League title because their attack did not have……