Martin Ødegaard has acknowledged that Arsenal's three successive Premier League runners-up finishes serve as motivation to go one better this season. Speaking after Sunday's 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United, the captain insisted the team must focus on the present and ignore external noise.
“Obviously it is a factor,” Ødegaard said of the near misses. “But it can be a good factor as well. It gives you more fuel and more hunger and determination to get it done.” The Norwegian added that the experience of those campaigns taught the squad to stay together and look ahead to the next game.
Arsenal now turn their attention to Wednesday's Champions League match against Kairat Almaty at the Emirates, where they aim to make it eight wins from eight in the league phase. However, the focus is already shifting to Saturday's trip to Leeds United, following a run of two points from three league matches after goalless draws with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The defeat to United left Arsenal four points clear at the top, but there is growing anxiety among supporters. Ødegaard dismissed any sense of panic, saying: “I didn’t feel that. I was so focused on the game. The important thing is to stay in the moment.”
Reflecting on the performance, the 26-year-old admitted his side lost their way after taking a first-half lead. “We let them run too easily and play on their strengths too much,” he said. “We know they are good on the counter and we let them do that. In the second half, they won duels and 50-50 balls. That is definitely something we can improve.”
