Joe Cole is raving about Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard following his match-winning goal in a crucial 1-0 Champions League away victory against Napoli.
The Norwegian playmaker delivered a moment of brilliance from the edge of the box to break the deadlock and secure vital points for Mikel Arteta's squad in Naples.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Cole expressed his admiration for the Gunners' skipper, highlighting how effortlessly he controls the tempo of high-stakes European matches. Cole noted that Ødegaard has fully embraced responsibility this season, dictating Arsenal's attacking play with "world-class maturity."
"Everything runs through Martin Ødegaard," Cole stated. "He can stand still and find space. He is at the peak of his powers and it is beautiful to watch. You can’t help but love watching him play his football."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta echoed Cole's sentiments, praising his captain's impact and expressing that his side should have sealed the win more comfortably given their overall dominance. "Martin is contributing with goals that are impacting results, which is what we want from our attacking players, being decisive, and certainly he was again today," Arteta said. "We should have done it in a different way because of the amount of chances we created."
Ødegaard's stunning strike against Napoli brings his season tally to four goals in his first five appearances across all competitions. This decisive goal follows his winner against Chelsea just four days prior, underscoring his incredible start to the campaign. With Arsenal aiming to defend their Premier League title and make a deeper run in the Champions League, they will be counting on their captain to maintain this remarkable form.
