Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta's secret weapon undone as Martin Odegaard influence laid bare

Arsenal are preparing to face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League with a fresh wave of confidence after Saturday's win against Nottingham Forest and the return of captain Martin Odegaard

Arsenal are in Portugal for tonight's Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon and Mikel Arteta's side will be full of confidence following Saturday's comprehensive win at home to Nottingham Forest.

Captain Martin Odegaard's return from his ankle injury appears to have rejuvenated the Gunners, with the manager and his team-mates showering the Norwegian with praise following the weekend victory.

However the Gunners' big strength of the past couple of years may be weakened with their set piece prowess nullified by many opponents catching up with their schemes.

Here are the big stories worth keeping tabs on from in and around the Emirates.

Ode to Martin

Martin Odegaard was hailed as the glue that binds Arsenal together after his first home appearance since August yielded handsome rewards, with Riccardo Calafiori claiming: "When he’s missing we feel it.”

The captain created six chances in 81 dazzling minutes with his return from an ankle injury seeming to propel Bukayo Saka back to his best.

Mikel Arteta claimed few players can rival Odegaard’s “fluidity, understanding, chemistry, timing”, adding: “when he's on the team, you can sense something that is different. “It's difficult to put a finger on it but it’s different.”

And full back Calafiori backed that up by saying: “I can’t tell you one thing but you can feel it whether he is on or off the pitch."

Set-piece stall

Last season Arsenal scored 22 set piece goals in the league, with a joint-record 16 of those coming from corners, and their towering cast have reaped the rewards of scheming that carries plenty of similarities with American football and basketball.

Early in Saturday’s destruction of Nottingham Forest it looked like another set piece goal had arrived when Odegaard whipped in a free kick for Mikel Merino to head down and Jurrien Timber bundled home - only for it to be ruled out for a marginal offside.

But Arsenal remain on four for the league campaign so far - tied with 10 other sides - and they have scored one in the Champions League ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Sporting Lisbon.

So is the novelty beginning to wear off for the not so secret weapon?

Bendtner knife attack

Former Arsenal star Nicklas Bendtner was caught up in a horrific stabbing attack last week while visiting New York with friends.

A pal of the former Denmark striker was injured, with CCTV footage of the incident showing the moments just before the attack was carried out.

Bendtner, 36, had been walking down a street in Manhattan's Upper West Side last Thursday with three other people when a man, wearing T-shirt and shorts, ran at them from behind while carrying a blade before running back in the direction he came from seconds later.

According to local media Joshua Zinberg, 25, was arrested on Friday and has been charged with attempted murder and assault. He was turned in by his own mother, according to reports.

And Bendtner has now broken his silence on the nightmare incident.

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