Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has conceded that the club's Premier League title challenge is over after Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, and Pervis Estupinan at the Emirates earned Brighton an impressive win, but left Arsenal four points behind leaders Manchester City with two games left. City, therefore need to win just one of their three remaining fixtures to successfully defend the title.
“It looks difficult to be honest, we have to be realistic, I don’t think City are going to make many mistakes now," Odegaard said. “The only thing we can do now is get back and finish the season in a good way, I think everyone deserves that, especially the fans. That’s the only thing we can do and we’ll have to see."
Until the start of this month, Arsenal had led the standings for all but one round once they reached top spot after the third week of the season. However, a recent run of three draws and a defeat to City – combined with City's 11-match winning run – opened the door to Pep Guardiola's side, who are now on the brink of their third successive title.
“We’ve done a lot of good things [this season], but at the moment it’s just disappointing the way we ended. Especially the three games before the Chelsea game, and then this game today," said Odegaard, who has had a superb season, scoring 15 league goals.
“I think it’s a good sign as well that we are disappointed at the moment, we just have to make sure we keep improving. We’re just going to get better and better all the time and that’s the aim.”
Assessing the performance against Brighton, Odegaard admitted Arsenal's level dropped in the second half, which allowed the visitors to capitalise on their chances.
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Pervis Estupinan of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates after scoring their third goal in the 3-0 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on May 14, 2023. Getty -
Brighton's Pervis Estupinan celebrates the third goal with teammates. AP -
Pervis Estupinan of Brighton scores the third goal. Getty -
Brighton's Julio Enciso celebrates after scoring the first goal against Arsenal. AFP -
Brighton's Julio Enciso celebrates the opener. AFP -
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta. AP -
Brighton's Julio Enciso heads in the opening goal. AFP -
Brighton's Deniz Undav scores their second goal. Reuters -
Brighton's Deniz Undav celebrates their second goal. Reuters
“The first half we did OK with the high press, we won the ball a few times there and it could’ve been dangerous,” the Norwegian midfielder said. “We could’ve scored some goals there, but then second half, I think the game changed a bit.
“We didn’t do the high press as well as in the first, and when they went direct it was a bit too easy for them to get through and in the end the goals were a bit easy, I don’t know why at the moment – it was frustrating.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta apologised to the fans for the defeat and urged his players to bounce back and finish the season as strong as possible.
Arsenal v Brighton player ratings
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ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 5: Turned Enciso effort over bar in what was Brighton’s only effort on target in first half. No chance with first goal, lobbed for second after Trossard made a mess of the keeper’s pass out from back. Parried Udav’s shot straight to Estupinan for the third. Reuters -
Ben White 4: Found both Enciso and Mitoma handfuls as the Brighton widemen switched flanks. Tormented by latter in run-up to Enciso’s goal and the Japanese winger had White on toast on more than one occasion. Reuters -
Gabriel 7: Arsenal’s best defender, and probably best player, on day when many of his teammates struggled. Brazilian was solid from start to finish. PA -
Jakub Kiwior 4: Up against a talented and physical opponent in Ferguson who held off the Pole’s challenge to shoot wide in first half. Went down holding leg just before Enciso scored and left Arsenal man down when he surely should have stayed on feet. Getty -
Kieran Tierney 5: Back in team in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko, which many Arsenal fans felt should have happened well before the Ukrainian’s injury. But had a tough time against direct running of Enciso. Reuters -
Jorginho 4: The fulcrum to Arsenal’s win at Newcastle last week, was left moaning at minor Brighton challenges this one as the visitors harried Arsenal’s midfield from start to finish. AFP -
Granit Xhaka 5: Has been the heartbeat of Arsenal’s title challenge but lost battle in centre of park and both centre-midfielders were replaced midway through second half as Gunners chased game. AP -
Martin Odegaard 6: Left dazed after taking ball full in face in first minute. Recovered to fire low strike from edge of box just wide after quarter-of-an-hour. Drilled a shot across face of goal and well wide in first-half stoppage time. Not one to remember in what has been superb season for Norwegian. EPA -
Bukayo Saka 5: First sight of goal came just before half-time but he pulled shot wide of Steele’s near post. Like rest of Arsenal’s attackers, struggled to make impact. EPA -
Gabriel Martinelli 5: Incredibly, not even shown yellow card for clattering into Mitoma that could easily have been red in first 10 minutes. Caicedo’s crunching tackle from behind – that should also have been at least a booking - soon after ended Brazilian’s match inside 20 minutes. Reuters -
Gabriel Jesus 6: Had low strike from tight angle turned out for corner by Steele at his near post. Certainly cannot fault his workrate but Arsenal needed more threat in front of goal. AFP -
SUBS: Leandro Trossard (On for Martinelli 18’) 6: Early introduction against former club and nearly opened scoring when he cut inside and clipped the Brighton bar on 30-minute mark. Hit weak shot straight at keeper in 71st minute. Awful touch led to Brighton’s second. PA -
Reiss Nelson (On for Jorginho 60’) 6: Drilled shot centremetres wide not long after coming on. AP -
Thomas Partey (On for Xhaka 60’) 5: Brought on to bolster midfield that had struggled to get foothold on game but failed miserably to change the script. Booked late on. Getty -
Eddie Nketiah (On for Jesus 77’) N/A. Reuters -
Emile Smith Rowe (On for Odegaard 77’) N/A. PA -
BRIGHTON RATINGS: Jason Steele 7: Had away hearts in mouths trying to play ball out from back on several occasions. Blocked Jesus strike at near post with his foot that was Arsenal’s sole first-half shot on target. Surprisingly untroubled after break. EPA -
Moises Caicedo 8: Playing at trick-back again due to injuries but was excellent away from his midfield comfort zone. Arsenal’s January transfer target should have been booked, at least, for revenge tackle on Martinelli who had clobbered Mitoma minutes earlier. Reuters -
Levi Colwill 8: One clever ball over Arsenal defence in opening 45 minutes to Mitoma starting move that ended with Enciso stabbing good chance way over bar. Outstanding at the back alongside Dunk. Getty -
Lewis Dunk 8: Crucial captain’s block on Arsenal attempt on goal on edge of half-time then came flying out to try and charge down Saka shot that was enough to put off the England man who shot wide. A typically committed performance from defender. Getty -
Pervis Estupinan 8: Had game’s first booking for shove on Saka which was a far less serious challenge than either Martinelli’s or Caicedo’s that both received no card. Slightly fortuitous assist chopping cross into ground that looped straight to Enciso who scored. Good finish on rebound to make it 3-0. Getty -
Pascal Gross 8: A key player in Brighton’s pressing game at the Emirates and made life difficult for Arsenal players in possession. A cool and clam performance from German. Harsh booking for foul on Jorginho. PA -
Billy Gilmour 7: Former Chelsea man played his part in what an impressive Brighton performance and helped frustrate and nullify Arsenal’s midfield. AP -
Alexis Mac Allister 7: Argentine, linked with move to Liverpool in UK media this weekend, almost put Brighton 2-0 up but fired shot just wide. Glides around the pitch and would be big surprising to see World Cup winner playing for Seagulls next season. Getty -
Julio Enciso 8: Started on left and had game’s first shot on target when Ramsdale palmed his powerful strike over bar. Leant back and skied a decent chance later in half. Headed Brighton into the lead just after break. Caused chaos in Arsenal defence and ran himself into the ground. AFP -
Karoru Mitoma 9: On receiving end of nasty shoulder challenge to the head by Martinelli in first half. Skinned White before setting up chance for Enciso later in half. Left same player for dead in run-up to Brighton’s goal and tormented White throughout. Getty -
Evan Ferguson 7: Showed real strength to hold off Kiwior just before break but Irish attacker pulled shot wide of target. A real physical presence for Brighton who holds ball, has a nice touch and lets defenders know he’s about. Getty -
SUBS: Danny Welbeck (On for Gilmour 60’) 6: Former Gunner was given warn reception by home fans after coming on. Drilled a shot couple of metres wide. PA -
Facundo Buonanotte (On for Ferguson 77’) N/A. AP -
Deniz Undav (On for Enciso 82’) N/A. Lobbed home Brighton’s second to kill-off Arsenal hopes on day and in the title race. Reuters
“First of all we have to apologise. Last week we were really proud and we stood with our chest out after the performance against Newcastle, and today we have to apologise for what happened in that second half. That is nowhere near the level that we have to show as a team and as a club," he said.
“At first, it was extremely competitive and we expected that, there were a lot of interruptions in the game and we were a little thrown. We had some big opportunities after regaining the ball very high up the pitch, and then the second half was a different story.
“We started to lose a lot of duels, and obviously the way we conceded the goals is just unacceptable that this level, and after that we had no answers to get back into the game.
“We have to live with the emotion that we have right now that we fell short and it wasn’t good enough. We’re going to have to use that to play the next game at a very different pace and quality.”
