August 21st 2023.
Martin Odegaard stepped up and delivered in the clutch when Arsenal faced Crystal Palace on Monday night. With a closely contested match, Mikel Arteta's squad was in need of a boost to ensure their victory.
The Norwegian midfielder rose to the occasion, taking the decisive penalty kick to secure the 1-0 win for the Gunners. It was a surprise to many, as it was not usual taker Bukayo Saka who stepped up to the spot, but Odegaard, who kept his cool and stroked the ball into the bottom corner, sending the Palace goalkeeper the wrong way.
Tomiyasu was controversially sent off after receiving two soft yellow cards, leaving Arsenal to dig in and defend their lead with 10 men. Arteta was asked if he had a part in deciding who takes the spot-kicks, to which he replied that it was up to the players on the field. He added that he was surprised like everyone else, but was delighted with the result.
The Arsenal boss also had high praise for summer signing Declan Rice. He played a different role than in last week's game against Nottingham Forest, and Arteta said he was excellent in both attacking and defending.
In the end, it was a great victory for the Gunners, and Arteta expressed his joy in the win. He was proud of the team's performance, and was happy at how they were able to stay focused despite the obstacles they faced.
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