Given the Chiefs’ dominance in recent years with Patrick Mahomes leading from the front. It seems his popularity isn’t subjected to the NFL. Instead, it’s going global, starting with Premier League’s Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. The Chiefs could count themselves fortunate to have their QB in Super Bowl runs. And look what they got in return? 3 Super Bowl titles within a span of 5 years.

However, Arsenal isn’t as fortunate as the Chiefs had been with Patrick Mahomes. After failing to stop Man City from a historical 4-peat of Premier League titles by just 2 points last season. Arsenal were hoping to start their season strong with Odegaard as their point of attack. But the Gunners had to do it without Odegaard, as he ended up suffering an ankle injury while playing for Norway.

Losing him in early September was a huge loss for the North Londoners. As they failed to keep up their early-season title charge. Now, with Odegaard back from his ankle injury, the Gunners find themselves 9 points behind league leader Liverpool. Well, seeing Odegaard back into the lineup has led to BBC 5 Live Sports reporter Darren Fletcher calling him a ‘Forced Multiplier’ like Patrick Mahomes from the NFL, “There’s a wonderful term that people use a lot of the time. When they talk about players in the NFL, they talk about them being forced multipliers. And what they mean by that is their presence on the pitch. Not only do they deliver, but they make those around them better.”

He went on to add how Odegaard has brought the equilibrium back into the team, “And when you see Odegaard in the arsenal team. All of a sudden, Saka looks more dangerous when Havertz is on the pitch. There’s more room for him to operate.” Even former Premier League player Glenn Murray echoed Fletcher’s thoughts, adding, “He just makes them tick.” And seeing the uptick in Arsenal’s results with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge and a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

So, Odegaard’s influence cannot be ruled out in Arsenal’s attack. While Arsenal fans celebrate the return of their captain, Martin Odegaard, their goalkeeper, David Raya, has a warning for them.

David Raya wants Arsenal to look out for Sporting CP’s forward Viktor Gyokeres

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is set to face off against Sporting CP, who boast one of Europe’s in-form strikers right now. Viktor Gyokeres has shown his skills in front of the net with 24 goals out of just 17 games this season. This has got Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya sending warning signals to his team, “We know his strengths, how he runs a lot in behind and scores a lot in one v.one and he is a top player in form. We are going to try and keep him very, very quiet. Don’t give him any chances. We have to step up defensively.” 

Well, Raya is not aiming to keep Gyokeres quiet; he wants to come back with a clean sheet, “Hopefully, we can do a great job and keep a clean sheet.” However, Arteta isn’t focusing on the Swedish Internation only as the Sporting as a whole is on an incredible 19-game unbeaten run this season. Sharing his thoughts pre-game, the Arsenal coach wants to talk about the team, “I would like to talk about the team, about the coaches and how phenomenal they have been…That is a great challenge that we have tomorrow, to come here and make a statement and show we are capable against this kind of opponent. Be ourselves and win the game.”

Now, with Odegaard back in the lineup, Arsenal would indeed fancy their chances against Sporting CP. But it wouldn’t be any easier as they remain 12th in the Champions League table going into this clash.