Martin Odegaard admits Arsenal lacked the consistency required to win the Premier League last season - but the Gunners captain insists his side are ready to 'come back even stronger'

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Just seven weeks have passed since Arsenal’s fate as Premier League runners-up was once again confirmed.

So close, but so far from the unrelenting Manchester City, who sealed the title on the final day with a 3-1 victory over West Ham.

Yet, for captain Martin Odegaard, the post-mortem is already in the rear view mirror and the next campaign in full focus. He and six team-mates are with Mikel Arteta in Marbella for, what is effectively, a pre pre-season camp while the other squad members are occupied with the Euros and Copa America.

Odegaard’s warning for their rivals is clear: yes, we weren’t consistent enough to win the league. But, once again, we are coming back even more formidable.

‘First of all, it was a good season,’ he reflects.

Martin Odegaard reflected on last season after Arsenal once again narrowly missed out on Premier League glory

Odegaard detailed the improvements Arsenal have made season-by-season under Mikel Arteta

‘We made history and we have to be proud of those things. We all felt a bit disappointed with being so close. But in football, it is small margins. We didn’t have the consistency to win it.

‘We have to earn it. We know we can improve, we know we are going to get better. So close but we are going to come back even stronger, I’m sure.

‘It gives us all the motivation we need to come back and win it (Premier League this coming season), that’s the big goal.

‘If you compare last season to the season before, we looked a lot stronger, especially towards the end of the season. I think we looked a lot more mature, more confident and you saw we had a really good ending to the season.’

They were much stronger, indeed. The 2022-23 campaign saw the Gunners finish five points behind Man City after an almighty capitulation, dropping nine points across four April matches.

This year, Arsenal took the title race to the final day — and made it to the Champions League quarter-finals, losing out to Bayern Munich over a hard-fought two legs.

Goals from midfield over the past two seasons has been key to Arsenal’s progress. If the Gunners are again to scale such heights, that will need to continue — particularly if a striker is not signed in this transfer window.

The Gunners captain also discussed his role as a senior player for the club's younger stars to look to

Odegaard struck 15 goals in all competitions in 22-23 and 11 in 23-24. Overall, there were 17 different scorers in the last campaign from across the pitch.

‘Yeah I think it is really important (midfield scoring goals),’ he says.

‘Players in my position want to score goals and get assists. It is important we all contribute to scoring goals and I think you saw that last season, with a lot of different goalscorers, a lot of players getting their goals.

‘That is really important, that everyone contributes and pushes each other to do even better at that part of the game as well.’

The north London club’s squad so far — signings are expected — sees core players coming towards their mid-20s. That includes Kai Havertz, 25, Gabriel Martinelli, 23, and William Saliba, 23. At 25, Odegaard already feels like one of the senior statesman and wants to pass on his experience to the younger members.

‘With age, you feel like you have more experience,’ he says.

‘You feel like you are more prepared. I think that is a good thing. There are a lot of young players in the team and I feel like I am one of the older guys to be honest, and I kind of like that as well.

‘Getting older you feel more responsible and you feel like you are hitting your peak.

‘Hopefully there is a lot more to come.’

Odegaard also hailed Mikel Arteta for the system he has developed since taking charge of the club

Arteta has been known to deploy players in positions outside their norm. Thomas Partey at right back and Havertz in the left-midfield role last winter are just two examples.

The team, particularly the players signed last summer, are now well-bedded in.

‘It’s really important when you play football to not think too much,’ the Norwegian explains.

‘It’s easier when you are in a system that works so well. We are so well trained now with the system and everyone knows what to do in different situations, so it is easier for players to shine individually.

‘That helps a lot. It’s important to play with the mindset as well.’

The Gunners embark on their pre-season tour of the US in two weeks’ time. They travel to Los Angeles for matches against Bournemouth and Manchester United, before facing Liverpool in Philadelphia.

Odegaard is vying for him and the squad to make the most of the trip and start the season with an edge.

He adds: ‘I think it is really important, it is a good chance to gain some advantage. I have always felt this way.

A clash with Manchester United at California's SoFi stadium awaits the Gunners on their pre-season tour of the US

‘Of course you need a break, but it is also a good chance to work on things you can’t normally work on.

‘You have some more time to recover and you can work on different things. I think it is a good chance to improve. For us as a team as well, we have to work on our fitness and make sure we are ready and strong for the beginning.

‘It is a good opportunity to be really strong from the start.’

Tickets for Arsenal’s US pre-season match against Manchester United at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, July 27 can be purchased here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/arsenal-fc-v-manchester-united-fc-inglewood-california-07-27-2024/event/0A00605488EF12EF