Every home game, Martin Odegaard gives you his thoughts on the goings-on around the club in his captain’s notes for the matchday programme.
Ahead of our final home game of the season against Everton, Martin chats about our win at Old Trafford last week, staying focused on what we have to achieve against Everton, and whether he wants to know what is going on in Manchester City's game with West ham United...
Our approach is clear, we have to stay completely focused on doing our job, getting the win and then let's see where it takes us.
We always knew we would need to win, so in that way nothing has changed. Before the Manchester United match last week we had spoken together about how we absolutely had to take the fight to the last day. We knew what we were playing for: the possibility to come back to our home on the final day with everything still to play for, and to give ourselves the chance to win it here.
It was all about just getting the win that day, so we have to be happy with that, even though we know it wasn’t our best performance. The difference this year has been that we can win these types of games as well and that’s a good sign. Again our defending from all over the pitch was unbelievable. So overall it was a good win, but not the best football from us.
Then we were hoping for Manchester City to drop points on Tuesday. I watched most of that game, and I have to say it seemed like it was played in a really strange atmosphere. In fairness it looked as though the Tottenham players were trying to win because they knew they were still fighting for the Champions League, but the stadium sounded very quiet. But as I said, our approach to this last game stays the same anyway – we have to win. We have to stay focused on ourselves, keep the spirit high and keep believing in what we’re doing. Make sure we do our job and fight until the end.
The task is clear now: if we win, and Manchester City don’t, then it’s all for us. The only thing we can do is what we’ve done all season: keep our focus where we should, and play our game. We’re back at the Emirates which is what we want on the last day, so let’s see what happens.
Anything can happen in football – we’ve seen stranger things happen before so the main thing is to just look at it as another game we have to win. That’s all we can do. We can’t control anything else. It’s down to us to ensure we have a good end to the season, finish with a win at home and then we’ll see. There is just one game left, so let’s go and win it.
I know it will be impossible not to know what’s going on in the other game – I’m sure you will let us know what’s happening there! It’s down to controlling our emotions and concentrating on what we can do. I think that’s easier to do when you are on the pitch, because the game demands that you stay focused – I’m sure it will be more difficult for the supporters!
Read the rest of Martin's notes, as well as a host of other fantastic content, by buying a copy of the Arsenal v Everton programme either around the stadium or online
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