Martin Ødegaard is confident that Arsenal will be “rewarded with a trophy” next season and has vowed to come back stronger after last season’s heartbreak.
Mikel Arteta set new club records in the Premier League era by recording 28 league wins and scoring 91 goals, but still fell short as Manchester City won their fourth consecutive title by two numbers ahead.
Arsenal began preparations for the 2024-25 season ahead of most other clubs as nine non-European and Copa America players, plus Ødegaard, Ben White and Jurriën Timber, joined the squad from the Spanish city club from Marbella for a camp that focuses on either conditioning and downtime with members of the family circle.
“We have written history as we have said before and we are proud of those things,” said Ødegaard.
“It wasn’t enough to win and that’s what we were looking to do. We were all a little disappointed to be so close. But in football, the margins are small. It’s simple to watch a game, but you have to look at the whole season and again, the margins are low. We didn’t have the consistency to win.
“We have to earn it. We know we can improve, we know we will improve. That’s what we’re looking for now. It’s just about small margins, small main points in the game and how to manage a long season. So close, though, I’m sure that we will return even more powerful.
“I think it’s easy to find the motivation because we all need to win, we all need the same and we all try so hard every day – the staff, the players, the fans, each and every one of them is striving in the same way. address.
“I think you just have to do those little things every day to become a little bit better and in the end I’m sure you will be rewarded with a trophy. “
Arsenal will travel to the United States later this month for matches against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool, with the final two matches being broadcast on ESPN.
Speaking to promote ticket sales ahead of this tour, Ødegaard admitted he had struggled last season after Arsenal clinched the title on the final day of the league season when City beat West Ham to seal top spot.
“It’s hard, especially at first,” he said. It takes a while to disconnect. But it is also vital to disconnect from the world of football and not think too much, although obviously you think about it more at first and then you can go out a little more over time. .
“It’s still there, it’s still in your brain and I do my most productive effort to turn it off. I also worked hard. After a week or two, I go back to running. It’s still there in the back of my head. “