Martin Ødegaard has been voted the best player of the third round of Premier League fixtures after helping Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the derby.
The Arsenal midfielder won the supporters’ vote, according to the league’s official website, receiving 31% of the total votes. He finished narrowly ahead of Liverpool forward Alexander Isak, who collected 30%.
The result followed Ødegaard’s decisive contribution in Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea at the weekend. The Arsenal captain scored the winning goal as his side came from the derby with a 2-1 success.
The award recognises Ødegaard’s performance during the third round of the English top flight, with the Norway international selected by fans in a closely contested poll. The one-percentage-point gap between the two leading candidates underlined how tight the vote was.
Arsenal’s victory at Chelsea also maintained the club’s perfect start to the league campaign. Mikel Arteta’s team have completed their first three matches of the season without defeat.
Ødegaard’s winning goal against Chelsea ensured Arsenal took all the available points from the derby and extended that unbeaten record. His display was then rewarded with the supporters’ award, ahead of Isak, who was the other leading candidate in the voting.
Arsenal will next face Sunderland away from home in the fourth round of the Premier League. The match will give Arteta’s side an opportunity to continue their unbeaten opening to the championship after three rounds.
The recognition adds to the significance of Ødegaard’s contribution in a match that ended with Arsenal on top against Chelsea. While the margin in the supporters’ vote was minimal, the Arsenal captain finished first after a weekend in which his goal settled the derby.
With 31% of the vote, Ødegaard was confirmed as the most popular choice for the third round. Isak’s 30% placed him just behind the Arsenal midfielder, making the contest one of the closest margins mentioned in the poll.
Arsenal now turn their attention to the trip to Sunderland, with Arteta’s side having avoided defeat in each of their opening three Premier League fixtures.