Odegaard reveals Arsenal’s plans for Sporting Lisbon game and mistakes learned
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has spoken about the lessons they learned in the 2-2 draw against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and what they intend to do differently this time. The Gunners meet Sporting Lisbon again in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg.
In the first leg, Arsenal managed a 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon and Odegaard believes they made some mistakes they can’t afford to repeat. “We did some things in the game that we don’t normally do and we know they have quality, so they will punish you for any mistake. We gave away a few easy balls and we can’t afford that,” Odegaard said, according to Arsenal media
LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 9: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal breaks through Hidemasa Morita of Sporting during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 9, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Odegaard also noted that the game was too open and Arsenal didn’t play with the control they usually do. However, he also highlighted that there were some positive aspects to their performance. “On the other hand, we also showed a lot of good things. So if we learn from our mistakes and fix that tonight, we can fix it here at home,” he said.
Arsenal are currently in a title race as they top the Premier League table with 66 points from 27 games, but are closely followed by second-placed Manchester City on 61 points. The Gunners are hoping to advance to the next round of the Europa League while maintaining their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The second leg against Sporting Lisbon will be played at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday evening. Arsenal are looking to secure a win and advance to the quarter-finals of the competition. They need to be more disciplined and focused than in Portugal if they want to achieve that goal.
The Gunners have been in fine form lately, winning four of their last five games in all competitions. They hope to continue that form against Sporting Lisbon and maintain their momentum until the end of the season.
Finally, Martin Odegaard’s comments underscore Arsenal’s determination to learn from their mistakes and improve on their performance against Sporting Lisbon. The Gunners need to be at their best if they are to progress in both domestic and European competitions this season.