Martin Odegaard shows up Erling Haaland as Norwegian media react to stunning display

Arsenal and Norway captain Martin Odegaard is in some form this season

Erling Haaland couldn't quite steal the limelight from Norway comrade Martin Odegaard despite his two goals against Denmark. Stale Solbakken's side got their UEFA Nations League up and running with a 3-2 win at home to their Scandinavian rivals.

Two months after bowing out of World Cup 2026 at England's hands, Norway were back in action on home soil on Thursday. And the home media in Norway rated Arsenal ace Odegaard at the top of the pile despite Haaland's instrumental brace.

The Manchester City man stole the show for many by scoring each side of half-time. His second of the night proved particularly telling in the 74th minute after goals from Mikkel Damsgaard and Rasmus Hojlund hauled Denmark level.

Still, Norwegian outlet NRK wrote Haaland "was not Norway's best" at Ullevaal. Instead, that honour went to Gunners skipper Odegaard, who earned an equal eight-out-of-10 rating but was highlighted as the team's best performer following his two assists.

Describing the midfielder's performance, his review read: "Is in tremendous form and shows it, once again, on the Ullevaal mat. The conductor stands up and takes responsibility, once again, when Norway need it and manages to turn the match in Norway's favour."

Odegaard laid on his first assist for Oscar Bobb's opener and rose to the fore once more to tee up Haaland's late decider from a corner. The latter was particularly incisive following a cute set-piece manoeuvre.

Norwegian broadcaster TV2 concurred that it was Odegaard's night on the whole despite Haaland's heroics. It commented how momentum appeared lost when Denmark pulled back at 2-2 from two goals down - until Odegaard took the bull by the horns.

"He may not be the loudest player on the field, but he is a captain with a capital C," read the TV2 match report. "A leader who not only basks in the glory when everything is going well, but who is also able to lift both the team and the audience when things are going badly.

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"Martin Odegaard has grown with this national team. He now appears as the natural leader both on and off the field."

That summary dovetails neatly with Odegaard's advancement at the Emirates Stadium. Odegaard arrived from Real Madrid nearly six years ago as a promising yet still-blooming asset, with the step into leadership coming by degrees over time.

His brace of assists on Thursday is precisely the kind of goal impact Arsenal fans want to see more of from their skipper this season. And his first Nations League outing of the international break was a reminder he can still outshine even the likes of Haaland.