Martin Odegaard registered his third assist in three World Cup appearances as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to reach the last 16.
The Arsenal captain set up Antonio Nusa’s 39th-minute opener before Erling Haaland scored the late winner to send Norway through to a knockout meeting with Brazil.
Daily Cannon reported that Odegaard now has three assists from his first three games at the tournament, while Bundesliga.com’s match report recorded Nusa’s goal as coming from an Odegaard assist.
Reuters also reported that Haaland’s 86th-minute winner gave Norway a 2-1 win and set up a last-16 tie with Brazil.
For Arsenal, the number is useful. The wider message is just as important.
Odegaard is still shaping decisive knockout moments after a long domestic season, which underlines both his value and the need to manage his summer workload carefully.
Odegaard Gives Arsenal Another Control Signal
Norway’s win was not built only on Haaland’s finish. Odegaard helped open the game, and his chance creation has travelled cleanly from club football into tournament football.
That is exactly what Mikel Arteta will want to see. Arsenal’s captain is still finding the final pass in tight, high-pressure matches.
The concern is the calendar. Norway now face Brazil in New York on Sunday, extending Odegaard’s tournament and delaying his Arsenal reset.
Reuters reported that recovery has already become a talking point before the Brazil tie, with both Haaland and Odegaard carrying heavy seasons into the knockout stage.
Read Arsenal has already tracked how Odegaard and William Saliba progressed into the World Cup knockouts. This latest assist sharpens the captaincy picture further.
The Brazil tie also gives Arsenal a fascinating internal watch, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli still involved for the Selecao.
Arteta will welcome the rhythm. He will also know every extra World Cup minute adds another layer to Arsenal’s pre-season planning.
