The Overlooked Warrior Fueling Arsenal's Rise With a Burning Chip on His Shoulder

Arsenal's 2026–27 campaign is barely a month underway, yet there's already a noticeable shift in the Gunners' identity.

Where last season was defined by defensive solidity and an unwelcome label as set-piece merchants, Arsenal have raised their game considerably this term. The commanding 3–0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield served as an early declaration of intent, while Mikel Arteta's men further demonstrated title-contender credentials by edging past Chelsea, albeit by a slim margin on Sunday.

The driving force behind both wins? None other than a determined Martin Ødegaard, seemingly on a personal mission to reclaim lost ground.

Martin Ødegaard's Dominant Start to the Season

At the same point last season, Ødegaard had already picked up a shoulder injury that he would worsen just four matches into the campaign. His return lasted a mere 38 minutes before a new knee problem sidelined him again, setting the tone for what would prove to be a deeply frustrating year on a personal level for the Norwegian international.

Ødegaard managed just 24 Premier League appearances last season, finishing with a single goal across all competitions as injuries struck four more times before the summer. Alongside fitness concerns came questions over whether the Arsenal skipper was in decline, with speculation even emerging that he could be on his way out of the club.

That transfer talk appears to have lit a fire under Ødegaard. Just four matches into the new season, the 27-year-old has already netted his third goal of the campaign, having been instrumental in high-profile clashes against both City and Chelsea.

As Arteta himself acknowledged, the chip on Ødegaard's previously injured shoulder seems to be fuelling him to reach new levels.