Martin Odegaard showed Arsenal exactly what they’ve been missing with talismanic display in 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest

As the well-worn saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Having spent two months in stuttering form as Martin Odegaard recovered from an ankle injury, the sight of their talismanic captain in top gear on Saturday was a very welcome one indeed for the Gunners.

The Norwegian’s passing, dribbling and pressing are crucial to Mikel Arteta’s blueprint, which was brought into even sharper focus as Arsenal won just three of seven Premier League matches in his absence. They’ve missed him, all right.

In the past, his work has been overshadowed by others. Arteta even faced questions about the midfielder’s position in the team during a sticky run of form in October last year.

Back then, the manager said: ‘We must be conscious of his form and positioning. It’s about putting him in better positions and optimising our tactics to make the most of his strengths.’

There is no questioning now how important Odegaard is to an Arsenal team featuring marquee names such as Bukayo Saka and William Saliba.

Martin Odegaard put in a man of the match display as Arsenal returned to winning ways

The sight of their talismanic captain in top gear on Saturday was a very welcome one 

While Saka opened the scoring with a fine strike and set up Thomas Partey’s second, it was Odegaard’s man-of-the-match display which took the plaudits.

His clever, intricate passes around the box ripped Nottingham Forest apart and his subtle, off-the-ball run created the space for Partey’s long-range strike.

Team-mate Riccardo Calafiori relayed a similar message after the match.

He said: ‘You feel it when he’s missing. He gives us a lot of energy and quality. You can feel it whether he is on or off the pitch. Him and Bukayo, what they did was unbelievable. It’s good to have them back.’

There’s still a long way to go this season but if Arsenal are to achieve their dreams, Odegaard must play a key role.