Martin Odegaard spoke about the last three weeks of action for **Arsenal**across domestic and continental competition. These are testing times for the group, who must rise to the occasion.
‘Game rhythm takes time’
The Gunners began the run-in a difficult moment. From being in the hunt for four major trophies in the middle of March, they suffered two setbacks in the space of two matches. A 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City came before a 2-1 loss to **Southampton**in the **FA Cup**quarterfinal. That has left the Premier League title and Champions League crown up for grabs.
Odegaard was absent from the matchday squad at Wembley Stadium, but he has featured in both fixtures in April for the team against **Southampton**and Sporting, gradually regaining rhythm.
“Since my last programme notes, we had the Carabao Cup final, which was a hugely disappointing afternoon for all of us. I tried so hard to be fit for that game, but in the end I didn’t make it.
“I was fighting my way back, but I wasn’t ready. It was very frustrating to miss out, but I had to get my body right. I was at Wembley Stadium though, and it was a game of two different halves I'd say.
“The important thing now is to take the lessons from that game, move forward and use them in the right way from now until the end of the season. There are a few things we could have done better and we know that. We spoke about that as a group after the international break, and analysed the situation we are in, how well we have done this season and what we still have to fight for.
“I was happy to be back in the team for the Southampton game as I had been out for a while. I felt good on the pitch. I did a good job with my rehab to stay fit, so from that point of view I felt good.
“It's different with game time. Game rhythm always takes a bit more time, but after being out that long, and considering everything I've been through this season, I felt really good. I worked hard to come back in a good state physically and I thought I did that well.”
‘It’s great to be back’
The club captain commented positively about the threat that the guests in this fixture will carry.
Andoni Iraola lost four members of his starting back five, including Kepa Arrizabalaga, from last season, but Bournemouth still sat in second spot in the table by the end of October. A two-month topflight winless streak stalled their momentum, but an 11-game unbeaten streak in the new year has brought the team back into contention for the European spots despite the sale of Antoine Semenyo.
**Arsenal**are familiar with the threat that the Cherries carry. Iraola’s men did the double over the runners-up last season, scoring twice from set-pieces in a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
*“Every single game is big at the moment, in every competition. When you get to April and May in the Premier League, that’s when things are decided. It’s great to be back at Emirates Stadium again.*
*“It’s a strange feeling not to play a league game for so long, but that has just made us all even more excited to be back in action. It’s been a while: we want to carry on where we left off against Everton.*
“*Bournemouth are a very strong team, they have shown that throughout the season, and especially recently while they are on a long unbeaten run. They always have a really clear game plan and the coach is clearly very good at getting what he wants from his players. It seems like they're really together as a group and they all know what they have to do on the pitch.*
“There is a lot of quality there, so that explains the results they have had lately. That’s just the level of the Premier League now. Every team is good, well-organised and play good football in different styles. Everyone has their identity and Bournemouth have a clear one. We have to be ready for that.”