Martin Odegaard declares Arsenal title bid ‘even stronger’ after last season’s near-miss

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has issued an early statement of intent in the build-up to the new Premier League campaign, vowing that his team will come back “even stronger” after missing out on the title of the final day of last season.

After back-to-back second-placed finishes, Arsenal are determined to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of the Premier League trophy — and even arranged an early training camp in Marbella for the first-team stars who are not involved in the Euros.

Odegaard, Ben White and Jurrien Timber have therefore already begun to build their fitness ahead of the official start of pre-season, in which Arsenal will travel to the United States to face Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool.

“We know we can improve, we know we are going to get better,” said Odegaard. “That is what we are working for now. We were so close [last season] but we are going to come back even stronger, I am sure.

“You learn something every day, especially when you are so close. You can feel it, you can taste it and you have it there on the last day. It gives us all the motivation we need to come back even stronger this year and to win it. That is the big goal.

“If you compare last season to the season before, we looked a lot stronger, especially towards the end of the season. I think we looked a lot more mature, more confident and you saw we had a really good ending to the season.

“So we are taking a lot of good steps. We just need a little bit more to win it. That’s what we are going to work on now and make sure that we improve in those small margins, those small details that can help us win the title.

“In football, it is small margins. It is easy to look at one game but you have to look at the whole season and again it is small margins. We didn’t have the consistency to win it. We have to earn it.”

Arsenal’s players were aware that a copy of the Premier League trophy was at the Emirates Stadium on the final day of last season, when Arteta’s side beat Everton. Sadly for them, Manchester City’s victory over West Ham United ensured that Pep Guardiola’s team won the title instead.

Odegaard admitted it was an “emotional” day and said it took him some time this summer to fully switch off after such an intense campaign.

“After the [Everton] game, it was a bit flat, a bit empty,” he said. “We had the big dream and we were so close. We had it on the last day and I really had the feeling something special would happen, and so did a lot of people.

“After the game it was just disappointment when you are so close and you can see it there, the trophy was there, so that was the emotion right then.

“But at the same time it is important to think about all the good things. The history we made, all the moments. I am so proud to be a part of this and be a captain and of everything we do as a club, as a team.”

Odegaard will turn 26 during this upcoming season and he said he now feels like he is approaching his peak as a player. The Norway international has been named Arsenal’s player of the season in each of the past two campaigns and is now established as one of Europe’s finest play-makers.

“With age you feel like you have more experience,” he added. “You feel like you are more prepared. I think that is a good thing. Obviously I am still young but I feel like I am getting older.

“There are a lot of young players in the team and I feel like I am one of the older guys, to be honest. I kind of like that. To have that experience and hopefully use it in the best possible way. Getting older, you feel more responsible and you feel like you are hitting your peak. Hopefully there is a lot more to come. With age you want to just push to reach your maximum level, wherever that is.”

Tickets for Arsenal’s pre-season match against Manchester United are available to buy by clicking here.