Arsenal’s Exit: Odegaard Says They Let Themselves Down

Arsenal saw their hopes of rounding off the season with a trophy ended in brutal fashion on Wednesday night after falling to PSG and Martin Odegaard has now revealed where is side went wrong

Martin Odegaard claims, as a team, that Arsenal were not strong enough in both penalty areas in their Champions League exit vs PSG. The Gunners crashed out of the competition at the semi-final stage after being beaten by the French side.

A 1-0 defeat at the Emirates was followed by a 2-1 reverse in the French capital as Luis Enrique’s side progressed to this month’s final vs Inter Milan. In the end, it was a lack of threat that ended up costing Arsenal in their semi-final – an assessment that Odegaard has pointed to.

Speaking after his side’s defeat, Odegaard said: “We gave it a proper go. We started the game really well. We were on the front foot, had the momentum, a few big chances but in the end it wasn’t enough.

“Between the boxes we did well, inside the two over the two games we weren’t good enough. Credit to their goalkeeper who made amazing saves. It wasn’t enough and that’s painful.

“In the boxes, especially today what we did with the ball between the boxes we dominated the ball and took the control of the game from the start. We were not strong enough in the boxes and that’s where we lost it.

“It’s painful, we wanted to do the big thing, a big goal in the league and the Champions League. Massive disappointment but we have to stay strong and together. Take the lessons, take the pain and use it to come back stronger.

“We have to learn from this. We did a lot of good things but it’s not enough. In front of goal is where games are decided and that’s where we have to be sharper. We have to use this pain in a good way.”

Elsewhere, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also offered his take on the defeat. And while he was disappointed with the finishing from his side, the Spaniard instead decided to focus on the performance of PSG stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

He said: “I’m very proud to coach the players that we have, and within that, we create chances and situations and normally they are goals. But again, sometimes you have to applaud the position, what the keeper has done, not just in this tie, in both times – he won be the game for them.

“And you need that to win a competition, you need that. In one of the two boxes, somebody has to do something special to win it for you and make it happen, and that was the difference.”

Mirror.co.uk