Mikel Arteta praises Martin Odegaard’s leadership after handing penalty duties to Viktor Gyokeres, securing Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Everton.

Mikel Arteta has praised Martin Odegaard’s leadership after the Arsenal captain handed Viktor Gyokeres the ball to take the penalty in their win over Everton.

The decision paid off, with Gyokeres scoring emphatically to secure the only goal of the match.

Gyokeres had been under scrutiny for his recent performances, but he made no mistake from the spot, smashing the ball past Jordan Pickford.

Arteta was delighted with the decision, saying, “Very happy for him. They took ownership on the pitch between Martin and Bukayo and him to decide who was the taker.”

Odegaard’s leadership has been instrumental in Arsenal’s success, and this was another example of his influence on the pitch. He has often handed the ball to teammates for penalties, including Kai Havertz against Bournemouth last year..

Arteta commended Odegaard’s decision, saying, “They made a great decision because Viktor put the ball in back of the net.”

The win moves Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table, and they’ll be looking to extend their lead over Christmas.