Arteta believes the Norwegian playmaker can turn big games, and Sunday’s north London derby is certainly one of those
Arsenal may be embracing the new but they have, at least, signed someone with form in bending a north London derby to his will. In March they were undeservedly losing to Érik Lamela’s mindboggling rabona at the Emirates Stadium when, as half-time neared and predictable neuroses hovered, Martin Ødegaard swept in a left-footed equaliser from 14 yards.
It was not the cleanest of finishes but nobody cared: Arsenal had been let down that morning when the captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, reported late, but their 22-year-old loanee had pointed the way instead.
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