In a crucial midweek Premier League clash, Tottenham Hotspur fell to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City.
This result not only hindered Spurs’ own ambitions but also dented the title hopes of their North London rivals, Arsenal, who had been counting on a more favourable outcome.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard made headlines following the match with subtle criticism directed at Tottenham fans.
The Gunners had hoped that Spurs could take points off Manchester City to aid Arsenal’s title challenge. Instead, the loss left Arsenal’s prospects in jeopardy.
However, Spurs’ loss meant they failed to benefit themselves or assist the Gunners in this critical aspect.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard made the news by subtly criticising Tottenham fans after City’s win over the Lilywhites.
This result significantly dented the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes, as they had relied on their city rivals to take points off Man City.
Reflecting on the match, Odegaard described the atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as “really strange,” noting the surprising quietness despite the high stakes.
His comments suggest that some Spurs fans might have preferred a loss if it hindered Arsenal’s title chase.
The Norwegian midfielder observed that Ange Postecoglou’s side were indeed making an effort, aware of their Champions League hopes and finishing inside the top four. However, he noticed a distinct lack of enthusiasm from the crowd.
Although Odegaard remains optimistic about Arsenal’s prospects and has called on his team to maintain focus on their game plan. With one match remaining in the season, they hope to take advantage of any slip-ups by Pep Guardiola’s side.
As quoted by the 90min, the 25-year-old commented:
“Then we were hoping for Manchester City to drop points on Tuesday. I watched most of that game, and I have to say it seemed like it was played in a really strange atmosphere. In fairness it looked as though the Tottenham players were trying to win because they knew they were still fighting for the Champions League, but the stadium sounded very quiet.
“But as I said, our approach to this last game stays the same anyway – we have to win. We have to stay focused on ourselves, keep the spirit high and keep believing in what we’re doing. Make sure we do our job and fight until the end.
“The task is clear now: if we win, and Manchester City don’t, then it’s all for us. The only thing we can do is what we’ve done all season: keep our focus where we should, and play our game. We’re back at the Emirates which is what we want on the last day, so let’s see what happens.”
Manchester City will host West Ham United in the final round, while Arsenal will face Everton at the Emirates, in a bid to clinch the Premier League title.