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.

While Martin Odegaard is fit, Arsenal will feel they still have hope in this season’s Premier League title race. It may have been Bukayo Saka, substitute Thomas Partey and teenager Ethan Nwaneri who netted the goals that secured a first League win in five games for the Gunners.

Arsenal: Magic Martin Odegaard lifts mood to reignite title belief - Influential captain delivers an inspired display against Nottingham Forest to show the Gunners just what they’ve been missing

Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Arsenal goal as Mikel Arteta’s side beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 to secure a first Premier League win since October 5. Arsenal had the ball in net after five minutes when Jurrien Timber bundled in from a free-kick but Mikel Merino was judged to be offside from the initial header.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest LIVE! Arsenal return to Premier League action this afternoon following the final international break of 2024 with a potentially tough home clash against Nottingham Forest.