Martin Ødegaard just gave Arsenal fans an invaluable lesson they won't forget in a hurry

It's been a while, but Arsenal fans were given the Martin Odegaard reminder they needed during Sunday's monumental win over West Ham.

It was a game defined by its late drama, with Arsenal scoring the all-important winner in the 83rd minute, with Leandro Trossard scoring following a superb Odegaard run, and that goal meant the Gunners kept their title fate in their own hands.

Arsenal ride their luck and Odegaard shines

But it was almost very different, with West Ham looking as though they scored the winner deep into stoppage time, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR review for a rather clear foul on David Raya.

It was a huge relief for Arsenal that the goal was ruled out, and a crushing blow for West Ham, who need every point they can get as they battle Tottneham to beat relegation.

But it wasn't the only moment of relief, with skipper Odegaard also providing relief in the form of a superb cameo that burst the game wide open.

Martin Ødegaard just stepped it up a gear at exactly the right moment

It has been a real struggle for the Norwegian, and not through any fault of his own. Injuries have kept him from establishing a strong and consistent run of form, and his latest issue, a knee problem, has been particularly troubling.

But when Arsenal needed a leader, someone to take the game by the scruff and win it with their quality, Odegaard came off the bench and delivered against West Ham.

The Arsenal captain displayed incredible footwork against an ultra-compact West Ham back-line before pulling the ball back to Trossard to score the winner. That's a reminder to Arsenal fans of the quality Odegaard possesses, and indeed why he remains crucial to this team's success.

That's something Alan Shearer highlighted on Monday. He told The Rest Is Football: “You have to praise Arsenal, by the way, because you can tell they’re under huge, huge pressure. I thought they started the game really well.

“The substitutions clearly, I mean, the strength of the subs that they’re able to bring on was a huge help for them. Trossard finishes off, but Odegaard, the piece of skill, to bring someone of that quality on is brilliant. Ultimately, that’s helped them win the game as well as an unbelievable save, again.”

Arsenal are almost there, and while Odegaard's injuries have meant he hasn't been quite so influential as he is capable of being, the West Ham game served as a vital reminder that the Norwegian remains one of the Gunners' most important and talented players.

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