Martin Odegaard has called on everyone connected with Arsenal to pull together after the team warmed up ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at home to Bournemouth.
Captain Odegaard set up Declan Rice, who scored on 34 minutes in his 100th appearance for the club, but Andoni Iraola's Cherries fought back after the break to secure their first win at the Emirates and complete a league double by beating the Gunners.
As manager Mikel Arteta noted, successive defeats have left Arsenal filled with “fury, anger and frustration” and Odegaard stressed they must use those emotions to bounce back from the one-goal defeat at the Parc des Princes and keep their chances of Champions League success alive.
“We are disappointed at the moment, but we need to move on, be strong, stay together and prepare for an important game,” Odegaard reflected.
“It's a big game. It's good. When you're frustrated and angry and feeling down right now, you can channel all that emotion into Wednesday.
“We understand what we are playing for, it is a big game, we have to be united, create energy and be ready.”
Arteta's decision to make just two changes ahead of the Bournemouth game raised questions but it may have been a consequence of Manchester City's win at Wolves on Friday, which closed the gap on second-placed Gunners to three points.
Two wins from Arsenal's last three games will ensure Champions League qualification but with a trip to Liverpool and a visit to the Emirates on May 18 against top-five Newcastle, there is a lot of work to do.
Odegaard told the club's official website: “We are very disappointed. Our aim was to come here and play a really good game, to get a win – both for our position in the league and to create momentum for next week.”
“I think we controlled most of it.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
