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‘Unbelievable’ Odegaard Transforms Arsenal and Gets Saka Smiling Again

Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
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‘Unbelievable’ Odegaard Transforms Arsenal and Gets Saka Smiling Again

Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard.

Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition.

Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury. In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute.

Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end.

“He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.”

Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1.

Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute.

The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games.

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Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
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Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Liverpool are awaiting scan results they fear will confirm record signing Alexander Isak has suffered a broken leg after he was injured in their win against Tottenham, reports said Monday.

The Sweden forward was hurt in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory in London after a sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van der Ven.

Isak, 26, who had come on as a second-half substitute, was unable to celebrate with his teammates and left the pitch in considerable distress.

Immediately after the game Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted the injury was "not a good thing".

"If a player doesn't even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that," AFP quoted him as saying.

"That is just gut feeling and nothing medical... let's not be too negative yet. We don't know yet. Let's hope he is back with us soon."

The Athletic and Sky Sports reported Monday that Liverpool fear Isak has broken his leg, which would mean a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Isak has had a disrupted start to his life at Anfield, making just 16 appearances and scoring three goals since his £125 million ($168 million) British record move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season program and arrived at Anfield well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness. His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

Any absence would be a major blow for Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the yew year.

It leaves the Liverpool manager with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.

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Three Talking Points from the Premier League Weekend 

Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian defender #17 Cristian Romero is ushered off the pitch by Tottenham Hotspur's Danish head coach Thomas Frank after becoming the second Tottenham player sent off during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian defender #17 Cristian Romero is ushered off the pitch by Tottenham Hotspur's Danish head coach Thomas Frank after becoming the second Tottenham player sent off during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
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Three Talking Points from the Premier League Weekend 

Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian defender #17 Cristian Romero is ushered off the pitch by Tottenham Hotspur's Danish head coach Thomas Frank after becoming the second Tottenham player sent off during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian defender #17 Cristian Romero is ushered off the pitch by Tottenham Hotspur's Danish head coach Thomas Frank after becoming the second Tottenham player sent off during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (AFP)

Arsenal held off Manchester City to stay top of the Premier League at Christmas courtesy of a Viktor Gyokeres penalty in the 1-0 win at Everton.

Liverpool cashed in on nine-man Tottenham's lack of composure to extend their revival in the absence of Mohamed Salah.

Bottom of the table Wolves are setting unwanted records after a 10th straight league defeat against Brentford.

AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the weekend's action:

- Arsenal stay on top -

The Gunners will be top of the tree on Christmas Day for the third time in four years after grinding out a first Premier League away win in four games on Merseyside.

Being in first place at that landmark point of the campaign is usually a sign of future champions, but it has proved to be more of a curse for Arsenal.

In the four previous times they have led at Christmas in the Premier League era, they have not gone on to win the title.

That includes two recent examples as Mikel Arteta's men were reeled in by Manchester City in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Indeed, the last five times the leaders at Christmas did not go on to become champions, City have won the title.

Arteta, though, is confident his side will finally get their reward for continuing to put themselves in pole position for a first league title in 22 years.

"What gives me belief and confidence is the level of performance and the consistency of that," the Spaniard told AFP. "That's very, very difficult to do in this league and that means that the team is constantly there."

- Tottenham seeing red -

Tottenham could not be accused of a lack of fight to save their under-pressure manager.

But indiscipline was their downfall as another home defeat, 2-1 against Liverpool on Saturday, left the increasingly beleaguered Thomas Frank in the firing line.

Frank tried to shift the blame onto referee John Brooks for not ruling out Liverpool's second goal for a push by Hugo Ekitike on Cristian Romero.

But by that point Tottenham forward Xavi Simons had already seen red for a wild lunge on Virgil van Dijk.

Romero was booked for his protests after Ekitike's goal and then got himself sent-off in stoppage-time for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate, just as Tottenham had the Reds on the ropes.

"To get involved right and kick out at someone right in front of the referee. If my four-year-old did that, I would say 'what are you doing?" Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp said after the eighth red card of Romero's career.

Former Brentford boss Frank finds himself in a familiar position to many Spurs managers in recent years, unable to produce a team fit to match the club's world class stadium.

Only the bottom three have taken fewer points than Tottenham's eight from nine home league games this season.

- Abysmal Wolves -

With relegation already appearing inevitable, Wolves are in danger of becoming the worst side in Premier League history.

A meek 2-0 home defeat to Brentford on Saturday means they remain without a win and with just two points after 17 games.

The record books have already been rewritten during a miserable campaign for one of English football's oldest clubs.

A losing streak of 10 consecutive top-flight games is a first in Wolves' 148-year history.

Derby's record low points total of 11 from 2007-08 is under threat, with Wolves having the joint lowest points tally at Christmas in Premier League history alongside Sheffield United in 2020-21.

"Do we want to be remembered for fighting until the end of the season," asked vice-captain Matt Doherty after Saturday's latest defeat. "Or do we want to be remembered for being cowards?"

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Amorim Fears United Captain Fernandes Will Be Out ‘a While’ 

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2025 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2025 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
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Amorim Fears United Captain Fernandes Will Be Out ‘a While’ 

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2025 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 21, 2025 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)

Ruben Amorim fears Bruno Fernandes will be out for "a while" after the Manchester United captain was injured during Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Fernandes has started every Premier League game this season, but the Portugal midfielder is unlikely to extend that run any further following his injury setback at Villa Park.

The 31-year-old initially played on after pulling up with what appeared to be a hamstring issue just before the break, but he did not return for the second half.

Amorim ruled his influential star out of the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle, with severe doubts about his availability for the rest of the Christmas and New Year schedule.

"It's a soft tissue. I think he's going to lose some games. I don't know for sure, so let's see," Amorim said.

"You never control these things, so we'll see. He is a guy who is always fit so he can recover quite well, but I don't know."

Fernandes' fitness blow compounded Amorim's injury problems, with England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo missing the Villa game due to a calf issue.

The 20-year-old had dominated the build-up to Sunday's game after his half-brother wore a "Free Kobbie Mainoo" t-shirt to Monday's 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Mainoo would have been in contention to make his first Premier League start of the season against Newcastle, but instead he is set to miss out.

"I will see what we are going to do," Amorim said. "I think Kobbie Mainoo is out, Bruno is out, so we will see. We are going to find solutions. No excuses.

"We need to win the next game and we will try to win the next game."

While Casemiro will return from suspension against Newcastle, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are at the Africa Cup of Nations and Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are also sidelined.

United's selection crisis has raised questions about the potential for new signings during the January transfer window, but Amorim won't panic.

"We need to deal with that," he said. "What we cannot do is to reach January and try to do everything in urgency and make mistakes and then 'here we go again' with a lot of mistakes.

"I'm not going to say 'we need a lot of players' because we have a plan. If we have to suffer, the club comes first.

"Of course, we are in a moment where we need points, but we need to find solutions and we are going to continue with our plan."