Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has urged his teammates to put their disappointing Carabao Cup exit behind them and focus on their upcoming Premier League showdown against Liverpool.
The Gunners suffered a stunning defeat on Tuesday night after League Two side Fleetwood Town eliminated them from the competition following a 1-1 draw and a 5-3 penalty shootout victory.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave Fleetwood the lead in the first half before Viktor Gyökeres equalised for Arsenal shortly after the break. Despite creating several opportunities to win the encounter, Arsenal failed to find a decisive goal before the match proceeded to penalties.
Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch emerged as one of the heroes of the night, making crucial saves as the hosts secured a memorable victory. Arsenal’s task was further complicated when 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off late in the game.
Reacting to the result, Ødegaard admitted that Arsenal had failed to perform to their expected standard and acknowledged the need for significant improvement.
The Norwegian midfielder said the defeat was frustrating but congratulated Fleetwood for their performance, stressing that his side must take responsibility for the disappointing outcome.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We need to move on — we have a big game at the weekend, so bouncing back at the weekend is all we can do now,” Ødegaard said.
The Arsenal captain also acknowledged that his team improved as the match progressed but insisted that the performance remained below the level required to win such encounters.
The defeat ends Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Carabao Cup this season, extending their wait for the trophy, which they last lifted in 1993.
Attention now turns to Sunday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield, where Arsenal will be looking to respond positively to the setback and maintain their ambitions in the league.
For Ødegaard and his teammates, the immediate challenge is to turn their disappointment into a stronger performance when they return to action.
