Once again, Arsenal got the job done in the Premier League, defeating newly-promoted Hull City 1-0 at the Emirates and consolidating their position at the top of the table.
It wasn’t the smoothest performance from the Londoners, but it matters little when considering the position Mikel Arterta‘s side now find themselves in.
Manchester City were defeated by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. That’s three straight losses for Enzo Maresca’s side, and it’s hard to imagine any other club stepping up and challenging the reigning champions.
Why Arsenal are cruising toward another title
We don’t want to tempt fate, of course, but Arsenal are already in a commanding position, having now won five straight games in the Premier League, stretching away from their opponents at the front of the division.
Arsenal might not have found the formula for goals by the bucketload, but with so impregnable a defence, and so imperious a goalkeeper in David Raya, there’s little reason why the Londoners cannot maintain form and create a chasm between them and the chasing pack. Raya has already kept seven clean sheets across ten appearances.
Even though talisman Bukayo Saka is sidelined once again, Arsenal have become a more coherent attacking unit, not free-flowing, but undoubtedly confident and together, perfectly executing Arteta’s gameplan.
And it helps that some of the most talented members have stepped up, rediscovering their midas touch. Who better to illustrate that than Martin Odegaard, who is in the form of his Gunners career.
Martin Odegaard’s revival at Arsenal
There was a point during the 2025/26 season in which Odegaard looked down and out. The Norway skipper did not have a fruitful season, even against the backdrop of his club’s title-winning success.
Odegaard scored the second-half winner against Hull, breaching a stubborn backline with a well-timed rebound. But that was hardly the extent of the captain’s contribution.
This is a player reborn. Odegaard created five chances this afternoon, pulling the strings and adding the impetus that others can’t bring to the table. No other Arsenal has his vision and range of passing and intelligence when on the ball and tasked with making the right choice.
Odegaard, 27, might not have been in fine fettle as Arsenal won the Premier League last season, but his dramatic upswing in form means that Arteta’s side can retain their title with far more panache – perhaps concurrently mounting a bid for the Champions League title they came within a whisker of winning last term.
Odegaard’s revival has been quite something, but he’s not the only attack-minded Arsenal player to have come on leaps and bounds this season, with another previously out-of-sorts star quickly becoming Arsenal’s key man in attack.
Arsenal attacker is officially their best player
Noni Madueke has simply had no choice but to step up on the right flank for Arsenal this season.
Against Hull, he thrived off the right wing, whipping crosses into the box and proving himself to be a constant menace, missing a great chance to score, but frustrating and striking fear into the Hull backline for the full 90. He completed as many as four key passes and registered a staggering 13 progressive carries. Every time he got the ball it looked like something was going to happen.
|
Noni Madueke vs Hull |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
# |
|
Minutes played |
90′ |
|
Goals + Assists |
0 + 0 |
|
Touches |
67 |
|
Shots (on target) |
4 (2) |
|
Accurate passes |
39/46 (85%) |
|
Chances created |
4 |
|
Succ. crosses |
2/3 |
|
Succ. dribbles |
5/7 |
|
Ball recoveries |
4 |
|
Def. contributions |
1 |
|
Duels won |
7/10 |
|
FFC Rating |
9/10 |
Madueke, 24, is not as mighty as defenders like Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. Nor is he a superstar on the level of Declan Rice, recently described as “the best midfielder in the Premier League” by pundit Jamie Carragher.
However, it is quite something that he has stepped up and provided amid the continued struggles of Bukayo Saka. Madueke was electric against the Tigers, once again proving himself to be Arsenal’s difference-maker in attack. In that, there’s a strong case that “Arsenal’s most improved player“, as he has been called by one prominent club insider, has emerged as the Gunners’ most influential attacker.
Madueke had his detractors last season. After all, he joined Arsenal from London rivals Chelsea for £52m and only scored one league goal across a title-winning campaign at the Emirates.
Even so, there’s no disputing the England star’s natural qualities, and now that Arteta’s style is finally starting to develop Madueke into a superstar, long after that vision first took root, is certainly a good sign.
After a summer in which Arsenal chased a £100m attacker, perhaps Madueke could be that after all. Indeed, his performance on Saturday and in midweek against Slavia Prague had the makings of one of Europe’s elite wingers.
