Owen Hargreaves told a blushing Martin Odegaard that he was ‘ridiculous’ during Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Olympiakos.
Arsenal maintained their perfect start to this year’s Champions League with a 2-0 win over Greek side Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium.
Gabriel Martinelli poked home Arsenal’s early opener after Viktor Gyokeres was sent through on goal by Odegaard’s pass and his shot deflected off the post.
Arsenal withstood some second-half pressure before Bukayo Saka came off the bench and put the game to bed with an injury-time goal.
Mikel Arteta’s side reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season and appear set for another productive European run following a superb summer transfer window.
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The new signings, which included Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze, have made Arsenal less reliant on captain Odegaard, who endured a subdued 2024-25 campaign after missing much of the start of the season through injury.
Odegaard has already missed some games this season through injury but looked back to his best against Olympiacos.
‘In the first-half he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile,’ Hargreaves said on TNT Sports. ‘He was at his absolute best.
‘He left no questions that he’s still the star player at the moment. That’s probably as good as Odegaard can play.
‘When he plays like that he’s just a joy to watch. The goal is all him, really.’
Odegaard then joined the TNT Sports pundits to discuss Arsenal’s win and his own performance.
‘Martin, we were talking about your performance, especially in the first half,’ Hargreaves told Odeaard.
‘This ball is ridiculous by the way. You played a few balls in the first half that were just silly. You played like a surgeon, it was so precise. It was you at your absolute best.’
Responding to the praise, Odegaard said: ‘It was nice to be back. I have missed it and I felt good, and it was a good win.
‘We work on that [the fluidity] a lot, we want to create a lot. We know the quality we have in the team and how solid we are defensively so if we can create those chances and flow, it is always going to be good.
‘That is what I want to do, especially with those forward players, especially with Viktor [Gyokeres] who is so aggressive and always a threat.
‘That is my job, to create things for them. I could have had a few more assists, but we got the win and I enjoyed it.’
Arsenal boss Arteta described Odegaard’s performance against Olympiakos as ‘phenomenal’.
‘He influenced the game in a manner which is very important for us,’ a beaming Arteta said.
‘He continued to play forward, playing people through on goal. He should have scored a goal as well so very good to have him back at this level.’
Arsenal’s Premier League clash against London rivals West Ham on Saturday will be Arteta’s 300th game in charge of the club.
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