Speaking to TNT Sports, Odegaard admitted he has found Virgil van Dijk to be his toughest-ever opponent. Odegaard was still sidelined for Liverpool’s trip to the Emirates earlier this season where the two sides shared the points.

Your team has hit a creative rut that coincided with the absence of your primary playmaker? Get him back and all your problems evaporate. So yes, the semi-frequent leaden-footed attacking, sterile possession and clumsy decision-making that reared its unfamiliar head at Arsenal over the last two months was nothing more than a team unable to cope without Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and his Chelsea counterpart Cole Palmer are in complete agreement about the toughest opponent they have faced during their careers

Arsenal hadn’t tasted victory in the league since 5 October, giving Saturday a must-win feel. Martin Odegaard missed three of those four winless matches and what that streak proved more than anything else was that he is the most irreplaceable player in Arteta’s squad.

Martin Odegaard dazzled in Arsenal's 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest with Mikel Arteta and Riccardo Calafiori both lavish in their praise of the Gunners captain