Wenger: 'Arsenal has no weakness'
In the last day of 2022, Arsenal played jubilantly and scored four goals thanks to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ed Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli, divided equally for each half. Brighton did not give up but only removed two goals from Evan Ferguson and Mitoma Kaoru. The 4-2 victory helped Arsenal to hold the top of the table with 43 points, seven points more than Man City - the team was held back by Everton in the early game.
Before Arsenal, all four teams, each of which reached 43 points in the first 16 matches in the history of the English top league, were crowned at the end of the season, including Tottenham (season 1960-1961), Chelsea (2005-2006), Man City. (2017-2018) and Liverpool (2019-2020). Therefore, Arsenal are expected to win the Premier League for the first time since the unbeaten season in 2003-2004, under Wenger.
It is the former French coach who believes Arsenal has the ability to keep the top spot until the end of the season. "Arsenal have had a great performance, and are getting stronger," Wenger commented on TV2 after the game. "I think Arsenal have all the elements needed, both tactically and mentally, to win the title. As you can see, Arsenal created a lot of chances and I don't see any weakness."
Odegaard was voted player of the match, contributing one goal and one assist. In the 39th minute, from the Brighton player's header to clear the ball, the Norwegian midfielder caught the volley diagonally, doubling the gap. In the second half, right after Mitoma shortened the gap, Odegaard shined again with a long one-touch pass from the home field for Martinelli to speed up, penetrate the penalty area and poke the toe to raise the score to 4-1.
Wenger revealed he wanted to sign Odegaard in 2014, when he was just 15 years old. The two chatted live after the Boxing Day match, but Odegaard eventually joined Real for a fee of around $5 million in January 2015. However, the Norwegian midfielder could not compete for the official position at the Bernabeu, in turn wearing Heerenveen, Vitesse, Real Sociedad, Arsenal on loan, and was bought by the "Gunners" for a fee of 41 million USD in the summer. 2021.
"I am very impressed. Odegaard makes quick decisions and is always optimal," Wenger praised the Arsenal captain. "Odegaard makes football look so easy. He has progressed and become the leader of Arsenal. Norway has a lot of top-class players now, and I hope they can do well on the international stage in the years to come. next".
On Sky Sports, player Paul Merson also praised Odegaard and believed Arsenal could win the Premier League. The 54-year-old former midfielder believes that defending champion Man City is in worse form than Arsenal, as shown by a 1-2 loss to Brentford and a 1-1 draw with Everton at the Etihad. "At the moment, I don't see any team that can stop Arsenal," Merson insisted.
If Arsenal continue to win Newcastle on January 3, Arsenal will be far ahead of Man City - the team that has to fight Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on January 5 - 10 points.
