Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard has confessed that the exit from the UEFA Champions League was profoundly heartbreaking and anticipates it will take some time to recover from the loss.
However, with the Champions League aspirations dashed, he has shifted his focus to ensuring that the Gunners secure the English Premier League title for the 2023/24 season.
Odegaard stated that he will utilize the loss as a motivating factor, acknowledging the challenge of regaining momentum for the team.
The 0-2 defeat at Emirates Stadium to Aston Villa on Sunday resulted in Arsenal relinquishing their top spot in the English Premier League table. Now, Arsenal eagerly await an opportunity for redemption as they face Wolves on Saturday in the EPL.
“Yeah, that is what we have to do. That is the only thing you can do. Every time you get hit, you have to stand up and go again. The key thing is to stand together and lift each other up. Then, as I said, we have something really nice to play for, so that’s where we have to put the mindset now.
“I mean, every game now is so important; it has been for a while. It has been so tight and so competitive. Every game is really important. It takes a little bit to get going again, but I think what you play for in the league is enough motivation for all of us. So we just have to stick together, get back up, and keep pushing.”
Odegaard expressed regret that Arsenal was not clinical enough in front of the goal, identifying it as their major mistake.
“First of all, we are disappointed, but I think we have done something good as well. But yeah, it is hard to look at that now. So we are disappointed now, but we have to stick together. We have to keep pushing and hopefully, we can do something special,” he stated.
Arsenal have yet to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy, and this marked their first quarter-finals appearance since 2010. Additionally, this season marked their return to Europe’s major competition after a seven-season hiatus.
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