Odegaard's 'Helicopter Vision'

"Why do some players seem to have more time to process the situation than others?", Sky Sports asked. And according to the British newspaper, the prerequisite factor is not only the individual's technique, but also the ability to "scan" the situation on the field, read the game. "This is also the difference between good players and outstanding players," emphasized Sky Sports.

In 2013, a study of 55 midfielders found that those with higher sweep speeds had a higher percentage of completing forward passes. There is a direct correlation between passing the ball to the correct address and having a better overview of your surroundings before receiving the ball.

Geir Jordet - a sports psychologist who has tracked scanning art since the 1990s - was part of that study. He co-founded virtual reality software Be Your Best as a means of honing this scanning ability, but needed help from a potential youngster to improve it. And Odegaard was chosen for this study.

Accordingly, the Norwegian talent put on headphones and started using the software, an immersive experience that simulates in-game situations. The software records how many times and when a player checks his surroundings, from which decisions are made.

As Be Your Best CEO Andreas Olsen explains, Odegaard recognized the problem early on - the software's low level of difficulty. "When Odegaard was using the software, one of the product development features that was added was because he wanted a higher difficulty," Olsen told Sky Sports. "He's humble and respectful when it comes to situations, but wants everything to be done at 120% speed, instead of 100%. We now have a slider for you to increase or decrease the speed based on. actual speed of the script".

It's a short anecdote that helps shed some light on what has become obvious to any viewer of the Premier League this season. Odegaard sees everything, reads situations faster than others. The Norwegian midfielder's vision and ability to control the game is one of the important factors that help Arsenal fly high at the top of the table. Odegaard is in the top 10 of the Premier League this season both in terms of goals and assists - statistics show that the 24-year-old midfielder is at the heart of the "Gunners" play.

The Arsenal captain is present throughout the pitch, connecting his teammates with the task of making sure that everything runs smoothly. Odegaard works well with Bukayo Saka on the right, but it is also dangerous to switch to Gabriel Martinelli or Granit Xhaka on the left.

The Norwegian midfielder operates in the same half-space position as Kevin De Bruyne on the right-centre. But Odegaard, as Mikel Arteta says, is a very different type of player with the ability to handle the ball more neatly in tight spaces.

In the match against Everton 4-0 on March 1, Odegaard had more shining moments. He scored, but the situation that made the fans admire was the slide with his left foot and then stood up to block the ball with his right foot to pass Alex Iwobi - who was an adult and played for Arsenal from 2004-2019.

Odegaard has the skill set to showcase his talents on the field, but he uses it only for obvious purposes. The aforementioned slip is really the most effective way to help Arsenal keep possession of the ball. Similarly, a quick ball rotation from left to right helps Bukayo Saka score a super product against Man Utd.

Technically, there are not many players capable of opening up space in front of a dense defense like Odegaard. If there is space, the 24-year-old midfielder will finish himself in the "dead corner" but did in the 2-0 win at Tottenham on January 15.

Odegaard is also appreciated for his leadership ability. "He's humble, hungry with incredible qualities, always using those qualities to help the team," Arteta praised the student. "Odegaard is always ready to do anything for others, is a great role model for the players and staff."

This is partly reflected in the trip to Aston Villa. Odegaard missed an unbelievable opportunity when his left foot missed the post, in front of the goal was almost empty, the score was 2-2. The Norwegian midfielder fell to his knees but then continued to lead Arsenal to victory.

It was like a pivotal moment in the season. While not directly involved in Arsenal's two late goals, the composure of Odegaard, even though he is only 24 years old, is crucial. "It's just the feeling, the way he moves. What he delivers on the pitch is different," said Arteta.

Always playing with a calm demeanor, but Odegaard is in the top group of Arsenal in terms of work rate. He covers more ground than any other Arsenal player and has regained control of the opposing third of the pitch more than any other player in the Premier League this season.

"Odegaard decided the game with that different presence on the pitch," Arteta said of the inspirational Arsenal captain. "His attitude, his inquisitiveness and his ability to use it are amazing. When you have those elements, usually good things happen."

It's like the perfect combination, technical and tactical, physical and mental. But perhaps it's the willingness to learn, the desire to improve, even using virtual reality to try to gain an edge off the field, that matters most.

When he played Brighton on the night of the transition from 2022 to 2023, when the game was in balance, Odegaard shone with one of the best assists of the season. He passed a touch from home for Gabriel Martinelli to speed up, penetrate the penalty area and then finish through the opponent's two feet.

"If it's about covering the game, Odegaard knows what he has to do before he gets the ball," former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson commented on Sky Sports. "He's probably the only player on the pitch who sees that."

"It is a pass that is difficult to detect from the stands, let alone the pitch, a pass that requires visibility like from a helicopter," Sky Sports commented. "But of course Odegaard saw it. With the conductor at his peak, training at 120%, the game always seemed in slow motion."