Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard says “small margins” cost the Gunners the chance of dethroning Manchester City as Premier League champions last season.
Pep Guardiola’s side finished two points ahead of their nearest rivals, beating West Ham on the final day and, asked what his team needs to do better next campaign, Odegaard said:
“In football, there are small margins. It’s easy to look at one game but I think you have to look at the whole season.”
“We didn’t have the consistency to win it and we have to earn it and we know we can improve, get better and that’s what we’re working on. We were so close but we’re going to come back even stronger now I’m sure.”
City’s know-how in the run-in proved vital
From the 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the Etihad on March 31st until the end of the campaign, Guardiola’s men did not drop a single point.
The Cityzens racked up nine consecutive victories and scored 33 goals in the process. There was no doubt in the players’ minds that they were going to finish top of the table.
That winning mentality is hard to replicate without having won multiple titles and that is why the reigning champions will start next season as favourites.
What are the title odds for the 2024/25 Premier League campaign?
City are currently 11/10 at most bookmakers. While they are not odds-on at the moment, the Manchester club are the leading contenders to retain their title
Arsenal have slightly longer odds at 2/1, while there is a sizeable gulf to Liverpool, who are regarded as third favourites at 7/1 to 8/1. It means many believe it will be a two-horse race for a third successive year. Whether things will actually turn out like that, though, we shall have to wait and see.