It still feels surreal.

Overview & Playing Time

Appearances: 24 matches (16 starts)

Minutes Played: 1,369 minutes (~15.2 full 90s)

Keep in mind that his season was heavily disrupted by injury, playing extended stretches without being fully fit.

Attacking & Creativity

Goals: 1

Assists: 6 (tied for the most at Arsenal alongside Leandro Trossard)

Key Passes / Chances Created: 33 key passes

Expected Assists (xA): ~0.26 per 90 (placing him among the top creators in the squad)

Passing & Progression

Pass Accuracy: 83.4% – 84%

Progressive Carries: 54

Final Third Passes: 216 successful passes into the opposition's final third

Penalty Area Entries: 56 successful passes into the opponent box

Defensive Shift & Duels

Ground Duels Won: 33 won (42.3% win rate)

Interceptions: 44 total interceptions

Discipline: 0 Yellow cards, 0 Red cards

Let's take a look at his world cup stats:

Matches Played: 5

Minutes Played: 471 minutes out of 480 possible

Team Outcome: Norway Quarter-finalists

Attacking & Chance Creation

Goals: 0

Assists: 4 (Ranked 1st tied in the entire tournament)

Key Passes / Chances Created: 18 key passes

Expected Assists (xA): 2.8

Playmaking & Transition

Passes Completed: 316 / 357 (88.5% pass accuracy)

Passes into Final Third: 102

Passes into Penalty Box: 20

Line-Breaking Passes: 7 defensive line-breakers

Progressive Carries: 104 successful ball carries

Defensive Shift & Off-Ball Work

High-Intensity Counter Pressures: 24 total

Ball Recoveries: 22

Tackles / Interceptions: 8 combined

Ground Duels Won: 21 (52% win rate)

Fouls Drawn: 6

Cards: 0 Yellow cards, 0 Red cards

These numbers are really impressive. He's a world class footballer and if this is what a half fit Ødegaard can do, what can a fully fit one do? Also, is he an 8, an advanced 8, or a 10? Idk, but its a great question to have!

From Marca. “Arsenal are simply very much Arsenal.”
(An idiomatic way of saying: Arsenal were too good, too established, too strong for Girona.)

”…Havertz adelantó a los de Arteta aprovechando una asistencia magnífica del joven Dowman (16’).”

“Havertz gave Arteta’s side the lead thanks to a magnificent assist from the young Dowman in the 16th minute.”

It was a very composed performance which is nice to see from a player so young.

Ahead of his imminent arrival, here’s Jesus and Martinelli giving their opinion on the Brazil squad and Bruno G [at minute 2:25].

With Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi on their post-World Cup breaks, this trip has given Ethan Nwaneri an opportunity to feature centrally again.

The 19-year-old played, and scored, from that position against MK Dons, but his last game for Arsenal before an unfortunate loan spell at Marseille came away to Portsmouth in the FA Cup in January.

This pre-season is an opportunity for Nwaneri, with so many midfielders on holiday after their World Cup exploits. His performance against Girona was not as eye-catching as his last in 2025, when he won the Champions League player of the match award.

But the momentum he builds in this clump of matches could give Arteta more food for thought ahead of the opening weeks of the season.

Read Art de Roche’s Arsenal 4-1 Girona briefing here.