Martin Ødegaard has called for Arsenal to be more aggressive and direct in their approach after a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, a result that saw the Gunners miss an opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
The Arsenal captain expressed his frustrations post-match, identifying areas for improvement in what was a disappointing outing.
“We have to focus on ourselves. We don’t care about the other teams,” Ødegaard said in an interview with Sky Sports. “We did a lot of good things, but we have to do more.
We need to put the ball in the box more often and be a bit more direct and aggressive. We could have won it in the end.” His comments reflect growing concerns over Arsenal’s lack of creativity in open play, as the team’s last three goals have come from set pieces.
The match began poorly for Arsenal when defensive errors led to Fulham’s opener in the 11th minute. Jakub Kiwior misjudged a long ball, allowing Raúl Jiménez to capitalize.
William Saliba’s failure to close down the striker and David Raya’s inability to save the effort compounded Arsenal’s problems. Despite dominating possession, Fulham’s early strike remained their only significant chance of the game, with an xG of just 0.14.
Arsenal found their equalizer in the second half when Saliba converted a corner from Declan Rice, assisted by Kai Havertz. However, breaking down Fulham’s well-organized defense in open play proved to be a challenge.
Despite dominating the ball, Arsenal’s attacks often fizzled out against a disciplined Fulham backline. This trend has become a recurring issue, with the Gunners ranked 13th in the Premier League for open-play xG.
Frustrations peaked late in the game when Bukayo Saka appeared to have scored a winner with a header from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross. However, VAR ruled out the goal for a marginal offside by Martinelli, leaving Arsenal to settle for a point. “We’ve said hundreds of times we have to keep going game by game,” Ødegaard emphasized, maintaining optimism despite the disappointment.
Mikel Arteta’s tactical flexibility was hindered by injuries, including the absence of Riccardo Calafiori. Jurrien Timber was once again asked to adapt to an unfamiliar role, while Thomas Partey struggled to connect effectively with Ødegaard and Saka from right-back. Kiwior’s continued lack of confidence and Gabriel’s absence in defense further highlighted the team’s vulnerabilities.
Ødegaard’s critique underscores Arsenal’s broader challenges. While set pieces remain a valuable weapon, the lack of cutting edge in open play is increasingly problematic.
His call for urgency and adaptation comes at a crucial time, as Arsenal now sit six points behind league leaders Liverpool. With the festive schedule looming, immediate improvements will be essential to keep pace in the title race.
