Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has issued a defiant message to Manchester City after Arsenal's lead over their title rivals was cut again this weekend.
The gap came down to six points after the dramatic 2-2 draw at Anfield last Sunday, but now stands at just four after Arsenal again gave up a 2-0 lead to draw at West Ham. City still have a game in hand over the leaders, with the two teams due to meet at the Etihad on April 26.
The pendulum has undoubtedly swung, especially in the wake of Pep Guardiola's side again looking sublime in their 3-1 win over Leicester City on Saturday, with Erling Haaland scoring twice. But technically, the destiny of the title remains in Arsenal's hands, providing they avoid defeat in Manchester.
Rather than dwell on the negatives at the London Stadium, Odegaard instead stressed that it is still Arsenal in control: "We have to remember we are still top of the league with everything in our own hands," he told Football London . "The same mindset, same mentality to make sure we win the next one."
He did however, admit his side had again paid the price for wasting a dominant start: "A lot of the same things to last week, started well but then we stopped, allowed them to play on their qualities," he added. "We gave them the game they wanted, we gave them hope, and that's on us. We have to look forward now."
With City in FA Cup action next weekend, Odegaard and co will have a big opportunity to extend their lead on Friday night, when they host rock bottom Southampton. Anything less and suddenly, and away win against the champions will become imperative.
The pressure is undoubtedly mounting, with their draw at Anfield a week ago following the same pattern as their slip up at the London Stadium. Arsenal's last top flight title came back in 2003/04, the invincible season under Arsene Wenger.
And boss Mikel Arteta has called on his players to be more clinical from winning positions in their final seven games: “We need that ruthless mindset in those moments to go and kill a team," he told Sky Sports afterwards. "When the game is there for the killing you have to do it. We dominated the game, dominated the pitch and scored two beautiful goals.
“After that we made a huge mistake to stop playing with the same purpose to score the third and fourth one. We were just thinking we could play around them and maintain the result and just looked too easy. At that moment we gave them hope. Credit to West Ham they took it.”
