Martin Ødegaard speaks out and sends message to teammates after draw at Craven Cottage.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has sent a message to his teammates and manager Mikel Arteta following the 1-1 draw against Fulham
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has called on his teammates to refocus and push forward after their 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday. The Gunners had the opportunity to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, who had their derby clash with Everton postponed, but were unable to secure all three points.
Ødegaard, captaining Arsenal for the 100th time, expressed his disappointment at the final whistle, lamenting the team’s inability to capitalise on their dominance in possession and chances created.
“We didn’t score enough to win,” Ødegaard told the official website. “We dominated the whole game—they didn’t create anything apart from their goal. We had a few big moments, especially with the disallowed goal at the end.
“We did a lot, but I think we have to be a bit more aggressive going into the box and attacking the box. We created a few big chances, but it’s a game we should win. So we are disappointed. Obviously, we wanted to win, but we have to move on.”
Arsenal’s frustration was compounded by Bukayo Saka’s late header being ruled out by VAR due to an offside in the buildup involving Gabriel Martinelli. Despite their set-piece prowess—scoring for the fourth consecutive game from a corner—Ødegaard believes there is room for improvement in their attacking play.
“We’re so good at [set-pieces], and everyone believes that when we have one, we’re going to score,” he said. “And today we did, but we could have scored a few more, to be honest. That’s a good thing, and we just have to keep that up.”
Despite the disappointment, Ødegaard urged his teammates to remain focused as the fixtures come thick and fast.
“The mood now is obviously disappointed because we didn’t win, but we have to move on to the next game,” Ødegaard added. “There’s no time to dwell—we have to ensure we win the next one.”
Arsenal remain six points behind Liverpool in the title race, with the Gunners looking to bounce back in their upcoming matches as they aim to keep their title hopes alive.
