Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has issued a defiant rallying cry, insisting the Premier League title race remains “all to play for” despite rivals Manchester City seizing control.
The Gunners’ 2-1 defeat by Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday has left them on the cusp of relinquishing their long-held top spot.
Should City secure a victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, Arsenal’s 200-day reign at the summit would conclude with just five matches remaining.
However, even in that scenario, Mikel Arteta’s side would still be level on points with the reigning champions, prompting Odegaard to urge his teammates to deliver a crucial win against Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday.
“We have to keep going,” Odegaard stated, reflecting on the intense battle. “It was always going to go all the way to the end so we have to keep going, keep working hard and sticking together. We just look forward to the next game now and bounce back.
“We created a few big, big chances (against City) so there are some positives to take. It is frustrating at the moment but we’ll analyse it, move onto the next one, and it’s all to play for. This is the best part of the season so we will just look forward to the next game.”
Sunday’s loss marked Arsenal’s fourth consecutive domestic defeat, following their Carabao Cup final loss (also to City), a shock FA Cup exit against Southampton, and a crushing home defeat by Bournemouth.
This recent slump has fuelled a narrative of “bottling” their trophy ambitions as the season approaches its climax, with the Emirates Stadium experiencing palpable anxiety and even boos from sections of the crowd after the Cherries defeat.
While City will be engaged in FA Cup semi-final action this weekend, Arsenal’s home fixture against Eddie Howe’s struggling Newcastle presents an immediate opportunity to reclaim momentum.
Amid this high-stakes period, former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has called for Arsenal fans to throw their full support behind Arteta’s title-chasing squad.
Speaking on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show, he remarked: “The Arsenal fans need to be better. I saw them boo the team off the other day. Arsenal have been brilliant all season, they are in a bad run of form, and they need to understand how much the fan support means to the players and how much it can help you.
“Those players would have put so much hard work into being in a position where they are now so to lose a game and get booed off, that would have hurt the players, 100 per cent.
“For Arsenal to win the league, the fans need to play their part. They need to get behind the team. They want to win the league, and they are desperate to do that, but they have a role to play.”
