Martin Ødegaard has acknowledged that Arsenal will continue to face criticism until they shed their reputation as nearly-men, but the captain is confident the club is ready to change that narrative this season. Speaking on the eve of Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final first leg at Atlético Madrid, Ødegaard insisted he and his teammates are prepared to learn from past setbacks and deliver silverware.
Learning from the Past
Ødegaard referenced last season's Champions League semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Arsenal's three consecutive Premier League runners-up finishes. Despite leading the table and chasing a first league title since 2004, Ødegaard knows the pressure remains.
"It's always going to be there until we win, and that's something you have to live with," he said. "We need to take all our experiences and the lessons and use them in a good way. Tomorrow against Atlético is another great opportunity for us to do something special."
The Norwegian midfielder emphasized the team's progression since his arrival. "I've seen the progression since I first came and how much we've improved. It's been amazing to be a part of that, and I probably want to take that last step and do something really big. That's the biggest dream and what we're working towards every single day."
Weather and Pitch Concerns
A weather warning is in place for Madrid, with an electrical storm and heavy rain forecast, which could affect the match. The Metropolitano Stadium pitch has also drawn criticism, with Barcelona complaining about the grass length after their Champions League quarter-final exit. Tottenham players struggled to keep their feet during a loss there in the last 16 first leg. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promised his squad would "adapt to any context."
Team News
Arteta confirmed Kai Havertz is unavailable after limping out of Saturday's league win over Newcastle. Eberechi Eze is in the squad despite a fitness concern from the same game, while Riccardo Calafiori has also traveled.
"We're going to see a team that wants to be dominant, that wants to win it, and that wants to start to decide the tie tomorrow," Arteta said. "Now is the moment to make a statement and show how good we are, how much we want it, and to make it happen. The opportunity is in front of us, and we have to attack it."
