Odegaard Optimistic Despite Draw: Arsenal’s Title Ambitions Remain Strong
In a closely contested match, Manchester City and Arsenal settled for a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium, providing Liverpool with a slight advantage in the Premier League title race.
Both teams showcased a strong defensive display throughout the game.
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard and William Saliba shared their thoughts after the match, acknowledging the importance of securing a point against the reigning champions.
Odegaard commented, “Yeah, it’s true. We wanted all three points and we tried our best to get the win but we didn’t do enough. We’ll take the point and move on.”
Saliba added, “No, we cannot be satisfied when we draw, but it’s ok, we learnt from some games when we cannot win, we don’t have to lose. That’s what we did, we did well. We leave with one point but we’re not satisfied.”
Defensive Resilience
Reflecting on the defensive effort, Saliba highlighted the mental challenge of facing a top-tier team like City.
“I think it’s more in your head, you know. They are the best team in the world, we have to be focused all the game and we did well, we didn’t concede but we didn’t score as well, but I’m happy, that’s it.”
He also praised his defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, emphasising the team’s collective effort in keeping City’s attack at bay.
‘We were dangerous’
Odegaard acknowledged Arsenal’s threat on the counter-attack despite City’s dominance in possession.
“We had to defend a lot, a bit more deep than we planned to. I feel like we were dangerous in certain moments on the counter when we managed to keep the ball for a little bit,” he said.
“It’s hard when you’ve defended for a while and you get the ball and your legs are heavy, but we managed to take the ball, make a few passes and really counter”
“I felt like we were dangerous. We could have won it in the end there, but it was a tight game and a tough one.”
The Norwegian midfielder highlighted Arsenal’s resilience and determination in a challenging match.
The draw also saw Arsenal break City’s 57-game scoring record at home, showcasing their defensive solidity under Arteta’s guidance.
Odegaard expressed optimism about Arsenal’s position in the league, stating, “It’s a long way to go.
So much can happen before the end of the season, we have to take it day by day, game by game, that’s the only way to do it. We’ll keep working hard, keep pushing and we’ll see.”
With the title race heating up, both teams will look to maintain their form in the upcoming fixtures as the battle for the Premier League crown intensifies.
