Arsenal news: Martin Odegaard focused on next game rather than Tottenham fixture
- Planet Sport writer
- 5 April 2022
Arsenal tasted a shock defeat during a crucial period of the season to Crystal Palace and are under pressure from their rivals for the fourth and final Champions League place.
Martin Odegaard says there is no time for Arsenal to feel sorry for themselves following a 3-0 drubbing to Crystal Palace.
Mikel Arteta's side had a chance to move back into fourth spot with a point or more but they suffered defeat at Selhurst Park to leave them in fifth.
Tottenham - who have played one more game than their north London rivals - are above the Gunners on goal difference following a 5-1 win over Newcastle on the weekend.
However, Odegaard has said Arsenal must look 'forward' and 'learn' quickly with the race for a Champions League spot heating up.
"It was a terrible game from us from start to finish. Maybe a bit better in the last 10 minutes, but in general I think it was a really bad performance," Odegaard admitted.
"We should have done much better, but there is no time to feel sorry for ourselves. We have to get back to work and think about the next game already.
"This is tough but we have to look forward. We have to learn from it obviously. We have to look at the game, what we did wrong, and make sure it won't happen again."
Goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew put Palace in control inside 24 minutes before Wilfred Zaha sealed three points for Patrick Vieira's side in the 74th minute.
Odegaard was at fault for conceding the penalty as he brought down the Ivory Coast winger moments after missing a fine chance to get Arsenal back into the game.
The Norway captain paid tribute to the away support at Selhurst Park and promised a response at home to Brighton on Saturday.
A disappointing result but we won't let our heads drop 👊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 4, 2022
Thanks for all your support tonight, Gooners 🙏 pic.twitter.com/C1Zdh92KEe
Odegaard added: "I think the fans were again brilliant here, cheering us on and I feel sorry for them.
"We have to apologise and we have got to make sure it doesn't happen again. Hopefully next game we are back with a win."
On May 12, Arsenal will play Tottenham in their rescheduled fixture and a win for either could prove vital in claiming fourth.
"That's really far ahead," Odegaard insisted when quizzed about the Spurs match.
"We have to take it game by game, as we have said many times before. The next game for us is Brighton and that's all our focus at the moment. We take it game by game and we will see in the end."
