Martin Ødegaard has urged Arsenal to adopt a more aggressive and direct style of play following their 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage—a result that saw the Gunners miss a chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Speaking after the game, the Arsenal captain voiced his frustrations and highlighted areas for improvement. “We need to focus on ourselves and not worry about other teams,” Ødegaard told Sky Sports.
“We did some good things, but it’s not enough. We need to be more direct, put the ball in the box more often, and show more aggression. We could have won it at the end.”
His remarks reflect concerns over Arsenal’s struggles to create chances from open play, with their last three goals all coming from set pieces.
The match started poorly for Arsenal, as defensive mistakes led to Fulham’s opener in the 11th minute. Jakub Kiwior misjudged a long ball, allowing Raúl Jiménez to score after William Saliba and David Raya failed to stop the effort.
Despite dominating possession, Fulham’s early goal came from their only significant chance of the game, with an xG of just 0.14.
Arsenal’s equalizer came in the second half through a William Saliba header from a Declan Rice corner, assisted by Kai Havertz.
However, they struggled to break down Fulham’s well-organized defense in open play. This lack of creativity has been a recurring issue, with Arsenal ranking 13th in the league for open-play xG.
The Gunners thought they had snatched a late winner when Bukayo Saka headed in Gabriel Martinelli’s cross, but VAR disallowed the goal due to a marginal offside by Martinelli.
Ødegaard emphasized the importance of consistency, saying, “We’ve said many times we need to go game by game, and we’ll keep doing that.”
Arsenal’s tactical flexibility was limited by injuries, including the absence of Riccardo Calafiori. Jurrien Timber was deployed in an unfamiliar role, while Thomas Partey struggled to link effectively with Ødegaard and Saka from right-back. Defensive issues persisted, with Kiwior’s lack of confidence and Gabriel’s absence exposing vulnerabilities.
Ødegaard’s critique highlights Arsenal’s broader challenges. While set pieces remain a strength, their inability to create clear chances in open play is becoming a significant problem.
With Arsenal now six points behind Liverpool, Ødegaard’s call for urgency and adaptation comes at a crucial moment. The Gunners must improve quickly to remain in contention during the demanding festive period.
