Martin Odegaard reveals Arsenal's powerful strategy for a triumphant Premier League comeback

Martin Odegaard is determined that Arsenal will harness the frustration of losing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City last season and bounce back even stronger in the upcoming campaign. Throughout the previous season, the Gunners were in the lead for a staggering 248 days but were ultimately surpassed by Pep Guardiola's triumphant Manchester City, who secured a treble. As a result, Arsenal ended the season without a trophy for the third consecutive year.

Despite not winning a first title since 2004, Arsenal was able to secure a return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2016/17 season. Speaking exclusively to We News during the team's pre-season tour to the United States, Arsenal captain Odegaard acknowledges the mixed feelings about last season but affirms that the disappointment will motivate the team to strive for trophies in the upcoming season.

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Odegaard admitted there are mixed emotions at Arsenal about last season

"There are a lot of mixed feelings [about last season]," said Odegaard.

We take great pride in our journey and the immense progress we have made over the past few years. It is a significant accomplishment for us to compete for the title against a team that has achieved unparalleled success. This serves as a positive advancement for us, albeit it still stings to come incredibly close to victory.

There’s a great energy in the club. There’s a good atmosphere and the players, the club staff and the fans are really connected.

Martin Odegaard

Our goal was to emerge victorious, and that is still our desire. Although it still stings, we must harness the lessons we gained from last year and apply them effectively, just as we did in the preceding year. Despite falling short of the Champions League, we returned with greater resilience and better equipped.

Now, we must replicate that same approach in order to bounce back and channel our disappointment constructively. This will be our endeavor.

'New signings can have impact on and off the pitch'

The Gunners' spending spree has surpassed £200m in order to secure the services of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber at the Emirates Stadium, signifying Mikel Arteta's determination to launch another strong challenge for the Premier League title. Excitement courses through Odegaard as he anticipates the opportunity to share the pitch with Arsenal's new recruits, while also eagerly awaiting the contributions they can make to the team off the field.

"All of the signings can bring something great to the club," he said.

"They are great players and also great characters as well.

"They are adapting really well to the club already and it is now really important to have a good squad.

"We are going to play Champions League, be in a lot of tournaments and play in many big games.

"I'm excited to play with the new arrivals. They are good guys on the pitch but also off the pitch, and I feel they are going to give us a lot."

'People can say what they want but we'll stay focused'

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Odegaard consoles Bukayo Saka after his missed penalty at West Ham

Last season's improvements and this summer's incomings bring new expectations.

Odegaard acknowledges the pressure to perform, yet maintains that he and his teammates will disregard external discussions. When questioned about the anticipation of Arsenal challenging Man City this season, he responded, "That's the nature of football, and that's how it operates."

Everyone is going to be a bit more experienced this year after what we went through last year. We are going to learn from that and improve.

Martin Odegaard emphasizes the need to remain undistracted by speculation and high hopes. Instead, he stresses the importance of directing attention towards areas within their control, such as their on-field performance and consistent dedication to training. The goal is to put in the effort to continuously progress and better oneself.

"It's a great group. There are a lot of hungry players and young players.

"That's the key for us, to keep working hard, to keep going and pushing every day to be better.

"People can say what they want and write what they want but our job is to stay focused."

Timber: Expectations are really high at Arsenal

During Arsenal's tour of the United States, Defender Timber, recently signed for £38m from Ajax, conveyed to his teammates that the 2023/24 campaign would bring significant expectations. "With the addition of new players and their impressive performance last season, the bar has been set incredibly high," affirmed the Dutchman.

"They are constantly building, and it will be fascinating to see the outcome."

Timber, hailing from a family of die-hard Arsenal supporters, swiftly made the choice to switch from Ajax to Arsenal after a series of discussions with manager Arteta.

"That's something between the trainer and me," said Timber when asked about the role Arteta played in those chats.

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Arteta has refused to close the door on further arrivals before the transfer deadline

The conversation was enjoyable and we continued to have a few more discussions. I made a swift decision to join Arsenal.

My dream has finally come true, to be honest. All the waiting has been worth it. I simply followed my instincts. Arsenal is undeniably one of the most magnificent clubs globally.

"I think they bought me for a reason, it's to show my skills and add something to this group. I hope I could do it this season."

Nketiah: Hopefully Rice can remember how I like those passes!

Meanwhile, striker Eddie Nketiah anticipates a reunion with his former teammate Declan Rice, as they will both be donning the Arsenal colors.

The bulk of Arsenal's summer transfer budget has been dedicated to acquiring Rice, resulting in a club-record fee of £105m for his transfer from West Ham, situated across the city.

Nketiah and Rice were teammates in Chelsea's academy from U9 level to U14s. Interestingly, both players were released by the Blues on the same day.

"I have a close bond with his family, and he has a close connection with mine. It's beneficial to have that relationship with him, and I hope he can recall how I prefer to receive those passes!" Nketiah shared exclusively with We News.

"It's good to have him and I'm sure he's going to be a really good addition and help us this season."

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Rice and Eddie Nketiah were in Chelsea's academy together

Nketiah, on the other hand, remains unfazed by the competition for the striker position, which may involve the likes of new £65m signing Havertz and the return of Folarin Balogun on loan. He is determined to secure more playing time than his nine Premier League starts from last season.

"The previous season was incredibly positive for both me and the club. It was a wonderful experience to have a consistent run in the team during such crucial stages of the title race and in important matches," expressed the forward.

As a player, it's a dream come true to participate in matches like these. It was a great feeling to make a significant contribution by scoring goals and assisting the team.

I have a strong desire for more opportunities to play and contribute even more to the team. I am determined to push myself and continue improving. My personal goal is to have a successful season, and I hope the team can surpass their previous performance.

Arsenal's pre-season schedule...

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Get ready for the summer transfer window in England and Scotland! From June 14 to September 1 at 11pm in England and midnight in Scotland, expect plenty of exciting moves and transfers.

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