'Odegaard is back to his very best' - Nevin

[Getty Images] Martin Odegaard was some distance from his brilliant best last season, I suspect now that was down to a niggling injury. I was at the Norway v Brazil game during the World Cup and he suddenly looked like the Odegaard of old. I wondered then if that was just lifting himself for the tournament or the fact that international games are often easier for skilful players than top-level domestic English matches. I saw enough in Cardiff on Sunday to assure me and indeed the Arsenal fans that it is much simpler, their captain is back to his very best. The field was littered with world-class players, including quite a few valued north of £100m, but he was still head and shoulders above any of them on the day. His movement was bordering on balletic at times and his finish was the type you usually only ever see in five-a-side match. Putting any pro keeper on his backside with a dummy is difficult. They are trained not to sell themselves. But in that moment, he made Gianluigi Donnarumma look positively oafish. That is not an easy thing to do to one of the best in the business. The swagger from an entire football team is for once totally justified. Arsenal are no one-season wonders even if they will be chased and perhaps overtaken by Manchester City . Manchester United , Liverpool and maybe even Chelsea with their lack of European distractions could push them all the way too. But right now it is crystal clear that they are the team to beat. Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here .