Martin Odegaard conceded that Arsenal’s hopes of clinching the Premier League title were dashed following their 3-0 loss to Brighton on Sunday, which left Manchester City on the brink of securing the championship.
The Gunners’ captain was devastated by his team’s collapse in the second half, as Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, and Pervis Estupinan found the net, leaving the Emirates Stadium crowd in disbelief.
If Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, City will claim the title for the fifth time in six seasons and their third consecutive year. Even if Mikel Arteta’s second-placed side defeat Forest, City will still secure the title if they win against Chelsea on May 21 or earn three points in their other two matches against Brighton and Brentford.
When asked about the state of the title race, Odegaard responded, “Yeah, it feels like that. It’s going to be very difficult now, we have to be honest. It’s tough to accept. It’s not a pleasant feeling at the moment. I don’t know what happened, especially in the second half. It feels like all hope is lost.”
Despite leading the table for extended periods, Arsenal’s quest for their first title since 2004 has faltered. Their recent run of just two victories in the last seven games has proven decisive, while City has surged towards the finish line with a string of victories.
Despite the late collapse, Odegaard, the Norwegian midfielder, maintained that his young teammates possessed the mental fortitude to handle the pressures of the title race.
“We came here with the intention of continuing our form from the last two games, securing a good result, and maintaining our momentum. It’s a major disappointment,” he expressed.
“We displayed positive aspects in the first half and had opportunities to create significant chances, but we allowed them to gain more and more momentum in the second half. I don’t believe mentality was the issue. We approached the game with determination, but the outcome was different. We must acknowledge it, learn from it, and move forward.”
Source: Vanguard
