Martin Ødegaard has called on Arsenal to move beyond their identity as perennial contenders and embrace the opportunity to forge their legacy by aiming for their first Champions League final since 2005.
This week, his team faces Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium for the first leg of the semifinal, with Arsenal yet to secure a victory in Europe’s top club competition.
Last season, Arsenal suffered defeat at this stage against Paris Saint-Germain. While they are closing in on their first Premier League title in 22 years, they have also finished as runners-up in the league for the last three seasons.
When asked about moving past their history of near misses, Ødegaard remarked: “That feeling will always be there until we win it. It’s something we have to accept; we must learn from our experiences and use them wisely. That’s part of football and of our journey.”
“We need to stay focused on the moment. Right now, we’re doing exceptionally well, both in the league and the Champions League. That’s our priority: to perform at our best.”
“How could you not enjoy this? We’re competing in one of the toughest leagues in the world, battling for the Premier League title, and now we’re in the semifinals of the Champions League.”
“It’s hard for me to comprehend anyone not enjoying this journey. It’s the dream we’ve had since childhood. This is truly the pinnacle of the season, and the energy within the group is extraordinary.”
Arsenal remains unbeaten in the Champions League this season, though they will be missing Kai Havertz and Jurriën Timber due to injury in Madrid.
Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori are set to make their return as Arsenal seeks to improve on last season’s 3-1 aggregate defeat to the eventual champions.
Ødegaard expressed confidence that the team is stronger now than a year ago. “I believe we’ve improved in various ways,” he noted.
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“With new players added, I feel we are stronger now. We’ve learned from last year’s experiences and are possibly better prepared for this challenge. I believe we’re ready to seize the moment.”
Despite his own struggles for form and fitness this season, leading to speculations about a potential summer exit, Ødegaard stated: “I’m not sure where that speculation is coming from. My focus is solely on giving my best every day to achieve something remarkable. Talk and rumors are typical in football, but it’s not something I concern myself with.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the match as an opportunity for the team to demonstrate their abilities to the rest of Europe.
“This is the stage we aspire to reach, and we’ve earned our position through hard work, passion, and quality over the past nine months,” Arteta remarked. “Now is the moment to showcase our strengths, our desire to win, and to seize this opportunity.”