Arsenal’s recent performance against Nottingham Forest highlighted the transformative impact of having both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka fit and firing. After a challenging period without their captain,

Your team has hit a creative rut that coincided with the absence of your primary playmaker? Get him back and all your problems evaporate. So yes, the semi-frequent leaden-footed attacking, sterile possession and clumsy decision-making that reared its unfamiliar head at Arsenal over the last two months was nothing more than a team unable to cope without Martin Odegaard.

EMIRATES STADIUM — Arsenal supporters may have felt a pang of apprehension when they saw Mikel Arteta‘s much-changed team for the visit of high-flying Nottingham Forest. Arsenal’s recent wobble has provoked questions about the strength of their squad.

Martin Odegaard dazzled in Arsenal's 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest with Mikel Arteta and Riccardo Calafiori both lavish in their praise of the Gunners captain

Arsenal hadn’t tasted victory in the league since 5 October, giving Saturday a must-win feel. Martin Odegaard missed three of those four winless matches and what that streak proved more than anything else was that he is the most irreplaceable player in Arteta’s squad.

On his own, Martin Odegaard is an exceptionally good footballer. The same is patently true of Bukayo Saka. Both players are undoubtedly among the very best in the Premier League.

Stunning strikes from Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey and a first Premier League goal for teenager Ethan Nwaneri gave Arsenal a first victory in five league games.