Odegaard gives verdict on returning Jesus amid Arsenal dressing room demand
Martin Odegaard hailed Gabriel Jesus’ return to match fitness after the Brazilian started his first game since injuring his knee at the World Cup in December.
Jesus was a late substitute against Fulham last weekend but played 45 minutes of Thursday’s Europa League defeat by Sporting Lisbon. And Odegaard said of his teammate’s return: “It is a great addition to the squad again. He gives so much every day in training, he comes in and trains like it’s a game.
“He gives everything in all situations so it is great to have him back. Of course, he helps with leadership, he has been at Manchester City and won a few things there, so he can help with his experience and his energy as well.
“The players from City just bring different thinking, they have the experience and people listen to them when they talk. They are calm under pressure and add a lot of things. The whole team is helping each other so that is the main thing.”
Odegaard and his pals were miserable after crashing out of the Europa League and he knows the importance of winning against Crystal Palace on Sunday so they don’t have two losses to dwell on in the international break.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
He added: “It is very, very important. The next game comes quickly so we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we have to recover and make sure we win.”
Odegaard admitted the Europa League defeat by Sporting cannot be met by a similar hangover that followed their FA Cup exit. The Gunners crashed out at the last-16 stage as Gabriel Martinelli saw his spot kick saved in a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of their Portuguese opponents.
Gabriel Jesus has returned after undergoing knee surgery (Instagram/@dejesusoficial)Granit Xhaka's first goal since October had the hosts ahead before Pedro Goncalves levelled with a stunning 49-yard effort. Manuel Ugarte was sent off deep into extra-time for Sporting but they survived a couple of late scares to win the shootout and advance to the quarter-finals.
Attention for Arsenal returns to their Premier League title bid as they look to open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta's side have lost just six games in 90 minutes across all competitions this season but two of those defeats came on the back of their FA Cup fourth-round reverse at Manchester City in January. Taking just one point from the three league games that followed, many thought Arsenal's title tilt had faltered, but they have won their last five outings since.
Will Arsenal win the Premier League? Have your say in the comments!
Martin Odegaard reacts after Arsenal were dumped out of Europe (AFP via Getty Images)With the season entering the business end, however, Odegaard knows a similar blip cannot follow the setback to losing to Sporting. "We talked about it already in the dressing room," he said when asked how important it was not to see a repeat of that run.
"We have to move forward now. We have to look to Sunday. It started already now in the changing room and we get ready. We just have to change the mindset again. I think everyone is disappointed, but we have to move forward and just be ready for Sunday.
"I think every time we have lost this season we have learned something from it. Every time we have come back and changed the situation again. That is what we are going to do again and the next game comes quick, so it's a good opportunity to strike back."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
