Was it his best game? No, it was never going to be. But he still managed to deliver a very meaningful contribution. And he brings better balance to our midfield and team in general.
Ode confirmed
- Edited
Phew. It's just been announced that he won't be playing for Norway this week. Solbakken said that Arteta called him to discuss the situation as well. 
That is good. So he will miss both games?
Sicario2 - Tier 1 yup, going back to London.
QuincyAbeyie would be curious to know how that conversation went!
Great news. It's fucking disgraceful that he was called up.
Despite being injured for two whole months, Odegaard still leads open chance creation in the premier league in the 2024 calendar year. 62 ahead of 59 for Palmer, 58 Diaz and 55 De Bruyne. He and KDB are exceptional creatives
@Clrnc, I agree with @Coombs. Palmer is a fantastic player. But look at his stats. They are accumulated against bad teams that Chelsea punish in transition. Against more organized defensive structures, he’s been largely ineffective.
He’s a kid, so I expect him to solve this over time, and as Chelsea’s team matures.
QuincyAbeyie told ya
8 days later
Bravo today. When he got subbed today almost everyone around me stood up and clapped (doesn’t happen all the time). That display was worthy of a standing ovation 
Makes us tick. Our most important player by a distance.
By far. We look like a completely different team with him on the pitch.
We ARE a different team when he is on the pitch. He is integral for the way that Arteta wants us to play, and even if he has an off day, he still creates that danger for the opponents, and can change the game with one moment of brilliance. And his work rate is astronomical. Just look at his deft flick to Saka for his goal. He does little things like that which makes him impossible to stop all the time.
He’s an unbelievable player in all honesty and I don’t say that lightly. An artist but with work ethic, you don’t see that often.
Only criticism is that he doesn’t do it in the big away games and more recently he has faded physically in the 2nd half but that is a fitness issue post coming back from injury.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 we just went away to an unbeaten team that was at the top of the table in Europe, and dominated them. What else do you want him to do? What exactly is the standard you are holding him to?
If Ødegaard didn't play well yesterday, it'd definitely count as a big game he didn't perform in.