Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard insists he and his teammates will 'shut out the outside noise' and still believe they can end their 22-year title drought
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England.
Martin Odegaard after title blow(Image: Getty)
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Martin Odegaard insists Arsenal can still win the title and are ready to “fight until the end.” Arsenal have blown a nine-point lead in the title race and Manchester City could overtake them at the top if they win at Burnley on Wednesday night.
But even after Arsenal lost at City on Sunday, Gunners captain Odegaard says they believe they can overhaul Pep Guardiola’s men and finish as champions.
Odegaard said: “There’s still a long way to go, nothing is decided and there’s still everything to play for. It’s a big end to the season, but we’re going to be up for it, ready for it and looking forward to the next game and bounce back and keep going.
“We believe in ourselves. There’s still all to play for, we have to keep going all the way until the end so let’s just be ready for the next one.”
Arsenal face Newcastle on Saturday and, even after losing at the Etihad, Odegaard says the performance offered a lot of hope for the final five games of the season.
Odegaard added: “We were all disappointed not to win, we came to win but there’s many games to be played still and all we can do now is to build on the positives from this and move on to the next and be positive.”
Arsenal will be hoping that Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori back in contention this week to face Newcastle on Saturday.
Bukayo Saka, who has been struggling with an Achilles injury, has been stepping up his recovery work in the hope to push for a return to training this week to give Arsenal a huge boost in the run-in.
Odegaard himself made a return after injury at City and came through with no ill effects other than tiredness as it was his first appearance in nearly two weeks.
Meanwhile, Odegaard insists Arsenal will “block out the noise” and focus on winning the title.
The Gunners suffered a devastating blow of losing at title rivals Manchester City and could be knocked off the top on Wednesday night if Pep Guardiola’s men win at Burnley.
That would complete a remarkable turnaround in the title race as Arsenal were nine points ahead and will have been at the top for the past 200 days.
But now it is gearing up to be a straight shoot-out between Arsenal and City for the title which could come down to goal difference.
Arsenal are already having to stomach accusations that they are bottlers and have choked in the title race as they are in serious danger of seeing the season collapse around them less than a month after having an unlikely quadruple in their sights.
But Odegaard insists that Arsenal are determined not to allow any doubts to creep in and says they will not listen to any negativity because they believe they can win the title.
Gunners captain Odegaard said: “We don’t listen to the outside. That’s always going to be normal. I think we’re disappointed not to get a result so we have to just bounce back, take the positives and get a result in the next game.
Marting Odegaard, Declan Rice and Ebere Eze
Martin Odegaard is ready for title fight(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
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“We don’t care about the outside noise. Just stay focus on ourselves. It was a disappointment we didn’t win but onto the next now and keep going.”
Arsenal look set to be overtaken by City this week but Mikel Arteta’s men could actually reassert some pressure in the title race.
The Gunners play Newcastle on Saturday and then have Fulham at home so they will have two home games before City play their next Premier League game at Everton on May 4.
Arsenal could then be six points ahead again - obviously they would have played two games more - but it applies some degree of pressure.
Mind you, Arsenal have often struggled to deliver in those must-win games and so neither Newcastle or Fulham will be a formality.
However, Odegaard insists that they can take heart from the performance at City and deserved to get something from the Etihad and could have easily won it.
Odegaard added: “There were a few moments and small margins. One day it goes in, but this time it doesn’t. We lacked a bit more clinical finishing and then we conceded the goals a bit too easy.
“It was a big battle, two good teams going head-to-head, it was tough but I thought we did well. Some periods we could’ve done better for sure, especially with the ball.
“A bit more composure but it was a tight game and if we’d scored with one of those chances in the second half then it would have been completely different.
“It’s small margins. The one with Kai Havertz, we hit the post, set-pieces and we were close a couple of times so it’s small margins and that’s when you have to be really clinical. It’s big moments with small margins and if they go in then it’s a completely different game.
“We conceded the goals a bit too easy but we’re still in the title. But overall it was a good battle and just disappointed that we didn’t get a result.”
Odegaard’s return could also be crucial for Arsenal as the captain can give them a boost for the run-in. He added: “It was nice to be back. I was tired in the end but all good.”
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