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Mikel Arteta encourages Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard to adopt gambles in order to enhance his imaginative influence for the side.

The Norwegian midfielder's performance in midweek's 2-0 Champions League victory over Olympiacos highlighted his essential importance for the North London club.

Odegaard played a part in each of the goals, converted by Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, with boss Arteta giving the 26-year-old "total liberty" to express his talent after a disrupted start to the campaign due to a shoulder joint problem.

Inventiveness is in his blood.

The Arsenal manager continued, "There is no burden to him as it is his top skill to produce opportunities that not many players can do.

"He enjoys my complete autonomy from my side to experiment, take chances, and understand the movement in how he generates gaps—and he has accomplished that the last two games."

Fitness Issue and Recovery

Odegaard initially picked up the shoulder problem during the 5-0 English top-flight win over Leeds, then aggravated the same area when he landed awkwardly following a tackle in the first half of the game against Nottingham Forest.

He was absent for three matches but came back as a bench player in the nail-biting 2-1 triumph over Newcastle on the weekend, where his passing and offensive drive contributed in his squad's recovery.

Odegaard also supplied the stoppage-time corner which defender Gabriel guided in to claim all three league points at St James' Park.

Commanding Performance Against Olympiacos

Beginning against Olympiacos, Odegaard controlled proceedings alongside Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino and, as well as supplying chances, he was denied a finish by a excellent Konstantinos Tzolakis save and a subsequent block by back Panagiotis Retsos.

"He possesses all the permission in the universe to go ahead," said Arteta. "To operate with that liberty and with that level of play, degree of threat.

"Not merely with the distribution; the way he was receiving the ball and carrying the ball and making drives and showing up in threatening areas.

"He sent three people clear to score a goal, he should have scored a chance as well. Excellent to have him back, he played some impressive moments in Newcastle to assist us win the game and I think [here] he was phenomenal."

Strategic Shift and Recent Arrivals

Arsenal have changed their style of play this campaign, embracing a more straightforward approach to optimize their latest acquisitions and especially striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede's forceful run into the 18-yard box concluded with Tzolakis pushing the finish on to the post and Martinelli tapped in the follow-up for the first-half first goal.

It came after a assist from Odegaard, who stated: "That is what I want to do, notably with those forward teammates, especially with Viktor who is so proactive and consistently a menace.

"That is my role, to produce chances for them. I could have had a handful more assists, but we earned the win and I enjoyed it."