Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Acknowledges Team Did Not Do Enough In Fulham Draw

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Martin Odegaard admitted Arsenal fell short against Fulham, resulting in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. This outcome prevented the Gunners from closing the gap to four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. The match between Liverpool and Everton was postponed due to bad weather. Arsenal dominated possession but had to settle for a draw after William Saliba equalised Raul Jimenez's goal.

Bukayo Saka's late header was disallowed for offside after a VAR check, and Odegaard acknowledged Arsenal needed more effort to secure victory. "We dominated most of the game," he told Sky Sports. "The first half wasn't great. We were a bit sloppy and lacked energy and power." He noted improvements in the second half but expressed frustration over not winning.

Odegaard highlighted that Arsenal came close to winning with their late goal attempt. He praised Fulham's solid defence, stating, "They're a good team. They know how to defend." Despite doing many things well, he emphasised the need for Arsenal to be more direct and aggressive in attack.

The midfielder stressed the importance of learning from this experience and focusing on future matches. "We have to learn from that and go straight back in for the next one," he said. He reiterated that Arsenal must concentrate on their own performance rather than worrying about other teams in the title race.

Marco Silva acknowledged Fulham could have performed better but praised his team's dedication and fighting spirit. The Cottagers have lost only once in their last seven matches. Silva commended his players' commitment despite challenging weather conditions affecting their usual style of play.

"The first thing is to praise the players for their commitment," Silva stated. He noted that while Fulham didn't play their preferred game, they managed to limit Arsenal's chances effectively. Silva mentioned that maintaining possession was difficult due to Arsenal's pressure.

Silva also observed that Fulham lacked energy in the second half because of extended periods without possession, requiring fresh legs on the field. Despite this, he appreciated his team's overall effort and determination throughout the match.

The match showcased both teams' strengths and areas needing improvement as they continue their Premier League campaigns.