Martin Odegaard and Mikel Arteta rues missed chances following Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat against Manchester City

It looks like Arsenal’s run for the Premier League title has struck a massive roadblock as they lost to title challengers Manchester City 3-1 in the latest Premier League clash. The Gunners who were running away with the league title have finally witnessed a couple of poor results and now with the defeat against City have pushed them down to the second spot.

The first half saw City take the lead via Kevin de Bruyne in the 24th minute of the game. But Arsenal restored parity when Bukayo Saka converted from the spot in the 42nd minute after Ederson fouled Eddie Nketiah in the penalty area. Both teams were on level terms as they entered the dressing at the halftime break but only one dominated the second half. City took the lead in the game through Jack Grealish whereas Erling Haaland also added fuel to the fire as the Citizens smashed the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard shared that they were not clinical and lacked the sharpness that was needed in the penalty areas especially when the chances came their way. “The game is decided in the boxes and we were not sharp enough, in front of the goal and in our own as well. They were better. Apart from that, we played a good game, did many good things and had many good periods, but we have to be better in the boxes,” Odegaard shared his thoughts following the defeat.

The Norwegian midfielder who has been exceptional throughout the season for the Gunners shared the importance of being clinical and also to defend their own penalty area. He highlights that it is not about a single player but about the team. “It is football. Sometimes chances go in, sometimes not. But that is where we need to improve and be more clinical and defend our box. That is not just about one player, but the whole team.”

The former Real Madrid man who has been sensational for the North London outfit this season paid his gratitude to the fans. He thanked them for their relentless support and assured them that the Gunners will work harder to overcome the disappointment.

“As we have said all season, work hard and take it game by game. It is the same now. It is one game we have lost here today and now we look to the next one. A new game on Saturday and we must come back and win,” Odegaard concluded.

Even Mikel Arteta was critical about the lack of clinical approach from the Arsenal forwards as he felt that it was the game of the two penalty areas. However Arteta was pleased with his team’s performance despite the defeat.

“I have more belief than I had before the game, with the performance and the level the team put in against City. They wanted to play a different game than the one we played and with the crowd we have we can do it. They still have it [the belief], I can sense it. They feel they can do it,” Arteta stated words of motivation for his team despite falling prey to City.

“The difference was in the boxes, they had three chances and they put them away. We had chances and we didn’t put them away,” he concluded.

Arteta’s men will next travel to Aston Villa on 18th February whereas Manchester City will travel to Nottingham Forest a day later as both the teams will look to fight till the end of the season.