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Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard predicts Mikel Arteta will lead the Gunners to qualify for the Champions League this season.
THE LOWDOWN: A RETURN TO EUROPE
Despite being close to what would have been a perfect season, Arsenal endured a frustrating climax to the 2021/22 season
The Emirates Stadium outfit were still in the Premier League top-four with just three games to go. But defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United allowed their north London rivals to dump them out of the final Champions League position on the final day.
Arsenal, who were not involved in European competition during the course of the season, had to settle for a place in the Europa League which they have been competing in since their last appearance in the Champions League in 2017.
Odegaard arrived from Real Madrid initially on loan before a £34m transfer fee was paid to sign him permanently. He played a key role in Arsenal fighting Tottenham for fourth place last season with seven goals and four assists.
THE LATEST: BOLD STATEMENT
Martin Odegaard, who was recently named Arsenal captain, has now sent a warning to the rest of the Premier League in a prediction that Arsenal will qualify for the Champions League this term.
“Yeah, of course it’s a big thing for us,” Odegaard said, via quotes by the Evening Standard. “It was last year, as well, and towards the end we had it in our hands, and then we lost it.
“That was a hard one for us, everyone was really disappointed and frustrated with how we ended the season. I think you will see a hungry and ready Arsenal team come back and do it this year. That’s where the club should be, and that’s the goal.”
Arsenal got off a good start by beating Crystal Palace 2-0 last Friday to begin the season.
THE VERDICT: NO EXCUSES
Mikel Arteta and the team know that anything short of a top-four finish is failure. In order to forestall any bad occurrence, the team has strengthened in the right areas and excuses will not be taken should the side finish below those standards.
It is expected that the likes of Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and the likes will play key roles in the Gunners’ quest for a respectable finish this season.
