Martin Odegaard has said Arsenal's three successive runners-up finishes in the Premier League are a source of motivation rather than a burden, as the club look to respond to a 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United.
The Arsenal captain said the near misses gave the players 'fuel and hunger' to go all the way this season. 'Obviously it is a factor,' he said. 'But it can be a good factor as well. It gives you more fuel and more hunger and determination to get it done.' He stressed the importance of staying in the moment and ignoring external expectations.
Arsenal now turn their attention to a Champions League meeting with Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan on Wednesday, where victory would make it eight wins from eight in the league phase and guarantee top spot. The trip to Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday also looms large.
The United defeat, which followed goalless draws with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, means Arsenal have taken two points from their last three matches. It was their first home loss of the season and their third in the league overall, with the lead over Manchester City and Aston Villa cut to four points.
Odegaard acknowledged his side were not good enough, particularly after taking a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute. 'We let them run too easily and probably play on their strengths too much,' he said. 'In the second half, the momentum changed a little bit. They won a lot of the duels, a lot of the 50-50 balls and managed to create the momentum from there.'
