Martin Odegaard makes Man City promise and reveals when Arsenal learned of title

Martin Odegaard was pivotal in ensuring Arsenal picked up maximum points on the road at Bournemouth on Saturday. He scored a penalty, won a penalty and then assisted Benjamin White for his first goal of the new season in what became a 4-0 drubbing on the south coast.

What made the day for Arsenal even better however was learning that Manchester City had indeed lost on the road at Wolves. The home side took the lead twice in the game thanks to a Ruben Dias own goal and then a response from Hwang Hee-Chan to Julian Alvarez’s excellent free-kick.

The Arsenal fans certainly learned of the result before the final whistle at the Vitality Stadium had gone as a spontaneous eruption of cheers went up on the far side to the press box. But even then, as it transpired, the players were so focused on completing their game that they were unaware.

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We know this as football.london spoke to Martin Odegaard after the game. Asked when he learned of the result in the west midlands, the wry smile on his face and answer revealed all.

“I just heard,” he replied. “But again, we have to focus on ourselves.

“This league is so tough you say that everyone can beat everyone and you have to be sharp, ready for every game and it is such a busy schedule now. So we have to focus on ourselves. Make sure we are ready for next week.”

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An answer we’ve perhaps come to expect from a Mikel Arteta team member. The focus remains always on the next game and this is the smartest way to approach things as getting carried away early can lead to additional pressure and the need for even more composure at critical moments.

Asked whether City’s defeat adds more pressure to the game next week when Pep Guardiola’s side visit the Emirates was met with yet further calmness from the skipper. He was right to point out that City is not even the Gunners’ next game despite it being so close now.

“I think every game is a big game,” he said. “So, first we are in the Champions League and we have to be ready for that one and then we’ll see after that but every game for us it’s a big game.”

As he was leaving, reporters asked whether they’d be happy with a draw or go for the win to which he said: “We always go for the win.” Quite right too.

Arsenal know now that a win against the treble winners will take them above them for the first time this season. However, it might not guarantee them top spot after Tottenham Hotspur’s controversial win at home to Liverpool has shaken up the league in ways perhaps never seen before thanks to yet further refereeing blunders.