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Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard to take risks in order to enhance his creative contribution for the team.

The Norwegian playmaker's showing in Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League triumph over Olympiacos demonstrated his vital significance for the North London outfit.

Odegaard contributed in both goals, scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, with boss Arteta giving the 26-year-old "full license" to showcase his skill after a uneven commencement to the campaign due to a shoulder joint problem.

Imagination is his nature.

The Spaniard stated, "It brings no stress to him as it is his top talent to create opportunities that very few players can do.

"He possesses my complete autonomy from my side to experiment, take risks, and feel the motion in how he forms spaces—and he has accomplished that the previous two games."

Fitness Issue and Comeback

Odegaard initially suffered the shoulder injury during the 5-0 English top-flight success over Leeds, then re-injured the same shoulder when he fell awkwardly following a collision in the first half of the game against Nottingham Forest.

He missed 3 fixtures but came back as a bench player in the dramatic 2-1 triumph over Newcastle on Sunday, where his passing and attacking drive contributed in his team's comeback.

Odegaard also supplied the stoppage-time set-piece which centre-back Gabriel guided in to snatch all three points at St James' Park.

Commanding Performance Against Olympiacos

Beginning against Olympiacos, Odegaard dictated play alongside Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino and, in addition to creating opportunities, he was robbed of a finish by a excellent Konstantinos Tzolakis save and a second clearance by defender Panagiotis Retsos.

"He enjoys all the freedom in the world to go forward," said Arteta. "To operate with that autonomy and with that caliber of performance, amount of danger.

"Not merely with the passes; the way he was receiving the ball and moving the ball and making runs and appearing in dangerous zones.

"He sent 3 people clear to score a finish, he should have finished a chance as well. Excellent to have him available, he played some excellent time in Newcastle to aid us triumph the match and I think [here] he was exceptional."

Tactical Change and Recent Arrivals

Arsenal have modified their style of play this term, adopting a more direct strategy to optimize their new signings and notably attacker Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swedish player's powerful run into the penalty area ended with Tzolakis pushing the finish on to the post and Martinelli poked in the loose ball for the first-half first goal.

It followed a pass from Odegaard, who commented: "It is what I aim to do, particularly with those offensive individuals, particularly with Viktor who is so aggressive and consistently a menace.

"That is my job, to produce chances for them. I may have had a few more set-ups, but we secured the victory and I relished it."