Odegaard's Tactical Evolution: More Runs Into the Box Mean Arsenal May No Longer Rely on Set Pieces

Martin Odegaard, the Norwegian midfield leader, has returned in remarkable form this season, frequently making runs beyond opponents and moving into dangerous attacking areas. His scoring efficiency has also improved significantly. When he reaches this level, Arsenal appear like an unstoppable force.

The scene shifts to a moment in the match. Arsenal winger Trossard receives the ball on the left and cuts inside, driving toward the heart of the penalty area. Ahead of him, Kai Havertz appears to sense that a familiar and dangerous combination is about to happen.

Several weeks earlier in the Community Shield, Arsenal and Manchester City played their first competitive match of the season. Trossard produced a similar move, advancing against the full-back, cutting inside, and sending a precise ball toward the penalty spot area.

This time, Odegaard recognized the opportunity perfectly. He slipped forward from behind Havertz with excellent timing, controlled the ball, used a feint to beat goalkeeper Donnarumma, and calmly finished into an empty net.

The story did not end there. In Arsenal's high-profile match against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, the score remained level at the start of the second half. Trossard again produced a very similar attacking pattern.

This time his intended target was Havertz, but the pass slightly missed its line and went behind the German. However, Havertz already understood the combination, knowing that Odegaard would arrive in the box as soon as Trossard cut inside.

In an instant, Havertz reacted brilliantly. He allowed the imperfect pass to run through and intentionally left it for captain Odegaard, who was waiting. Odegaard controlled the ball with one touch and lifted it over goalkeeper Martinez to give Arsenal the lead, which they held until full time.

Odegaard's biggest change at the start of this season is his increased presence in dangerous areas. After four matches in all competitions in the 2026-27 season, he has already scored three goals. Last season he scored only once in 36 matches.

This is not accidental. Arteta and his coaching staff clearly planned to get the returning Odegaard into attacking areas more often. In this season's Premier League matches, excluding the Community Shield and the Chelsea goal mentioned above, Odegaard has averaged 3.2 high-intensity runs into the opposition box per 90 minutes during Arsenal possession, compared with 1.4 last season.

Although the sample size is still small, the doubling of this figure highlights the key change. More importantly, the goal threat he creates has visibly increased.

His improvement in off-ball movement is also impressive. In only three Premier League matches this season, he has made seven off-ball runs creating passing options for teammates, almost matching last season's total of ten. His per-90 figure has risen from 0.65 to 2.8, an increase of more than four times. One such run helped him score against Coventry in the opening round.

After two years of recurring injuries, the 27-year-old Norwegian star's career has not been smooth. Now, however, he appears to have reached a significant turning point, which is a major boost for a fast-starting Arsenal side.

During last season's title challenge, captain Odegaard also contributed. But he may have wanted more than most to recreate the feeling of winning a championship. Repeated knee injuries caused him to miss many matches, and even when available his minutes were limited.

In last season's 3,420 league minutes, he played only 1,371 minutes, just over 40 percent. Although he returned late in the season, started important matches, and traveled with the team for the Champions League final, he remained some distance from his status as Arsenal's central figure after joining permanently in 2021.

When Arsenal signed him, they valued his talent as a classic number 10. After years of development and adaptation, he has become a more complete number 8 midfielder, able to drop deeper to receive the ball and organize attacks.

This season's signs suggest we will see more of Odegaard and Havertz combining in advanced midfield areas while he continues his number 8 role. Havertz is not the most consistent finisher, but he is a highly intelligent false nine who benefits from teammates making runs into the box.

Arteta clearly wants Havertz to operate as a forward, making Odegaard's goals important. Based on his current form, he has a chance to challenge his personal best of 15 goals in all competitions from 2022-23. His deeper attacking runs will continue helping the team. He has averaged 5.6 high-intensity off-ball runs per 90 minutes this season, compared with 3.9 last season.

Staying free from injuries is crucial for Odegaard. After missing much of last season, he played at this summer's World Cup and was important as Norway reached the quarter-finals. Across the tournament, only Michael Olise's seven assists were more than Odegaard's four.

At club level, pressure remains. For a long period last season, Eberechi Eze's performances challenged Odegaard's starting role. However, Arteta clearly prefers Odegaard in midfield, possibly because of his defensive positioning and ability to lead pressing movements.

His biggest challenge this season is maintaining fitness. In his first three full Premier League seasons after joining Arsenal, he played 32, 37, and 35 matches respectively. In the following two seasons, those numbers dropped to 26 and then 16.

He must prove he can stay healthy. This is important not only because Arsenal become much stronger with him available, but also because fitness allows him to consistently produce his best level. This is the ideal time to show he can complete a full season.

At the beginning of the 2026-27 season, Odegaard is showing the best form of his career. In the Premier League, only he and Chelsea's Morgan Rogers have recorded both expected goals (xG) of at least 1.0 and expected assists (xA) of at least 1.0, showing his all-around attacking threat.

In open-play attacking sequences that eventually resulted in shots, he has been involved in 20, with only seven players recording a higher number. He also leads the Premier League in one category: four open-play sequences where he both helped build the attack and took the final shot.

Arsenal have been operating smoothly this season, and limited changes during the summer window have provided Odegaard with a strong competitive environment.

But is Arsenal's overall rise driving Odegaard's form, or is Odegaard's brilliance helping create the team's success? His Arsenal career has almost perfectly overlapped with the club's continued title challenges, and that is not a coincidence.

Odegaard has rediscovered his peak form and may even be stronger than before, which is undoubtedly a worrying sign for the rest of the Premier League.