Mikel Arteta gets timely Arsenal boost as major issue arises to Bukayo Saka's frustration

November has been a month filled with problems for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and we’re only halfway through it.

From defeats in the Premier League and the Champions League, to yet more injuries being picked up by key players in his squad, it’s been a stressful couple of weeks for the Gunners manager.

Arteta’s woes were alleviated somewhat when skipper Martin Odegaard returned from a lengthy injury just before the international break, with the midfielder having suffered an ankle injury while on Norway duty in September.

Odegaard was thrown in at the deep end last time out against Chelsea for his first Premier League start since August and Arsenal looked much more like their usual selves.

The 25-year-old brought fluidity back to Arsenal’s midfield – a trait noticeably missing in the matches during his absence.

It was in the final third where Arsenal felt his presence the most, as Odegaard created four chances during the 90 minutes, as well as providing the assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s opening goal.

By contrast, Arsenal’s chief creator this season, Bukayo Saka, failed to create a single chance during the cross-London derby – something that would’ve posed a major problem if Odegaard wasn’t back in the XI.

Creating chances is something Arsenal have battled with all season because on the rare occasions Saka hasn’t been firing in the attacking department, the capital club have struggled to carve out opportunities in front of goal.

Saka leads the way for big chances created in the Premier League this season with 13, but the English international is the only Arsenal player in the top 33.

Even then, second in the list of Arsenal’s big chance creators is Martinelli, who boasts just three to his name.

Odegaard’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for Arsenal and Arteta.

Unsurprisingly, the Spanish coach was full of praise for Odegaard following the Chelsea contest, suggesting he’s in a league of his own when it comes to what he can offer.

Reflecting on the former Real Madrid star’s impact on the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, Arteta said: “I don’t know another player that is capable of [playing 90 minutes to that standard] after six weeks out.

“He had a day-and-a-half to be able to do that. Just how physically and mentally connected he was with the team it was unbelievable.”

Odegaard’s quality will be put to the test in what could prove a season-defining run of league fixtures for the 2023/24 runners-up.

Arsenal play just two teams currently in the top half of the Premier League table between now and the turn of the year – matches they can’t afford to drop any more points in.