Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is refusing to get carried away following Manchester City’s surprise 2-1 defeat to Wolves at Molineux on Saturday afternoon.
City dropped points for the first time this season, falling to a slender defeat in the Black Country. A Ruben Dias own-goal and a strike from Hwang Hee-chan either side of a brilliant free-kick from Julian Alvarez sealed a shock victory for the home side.
As City slipped up, Arsenal pounced, beating Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium to cut the gap on Pep Guardiola’s side to just one point, meaning the stage has been set ahead of their upcoming encounter. The two title challengers will go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Though both sides have midweek Champions League fixtures to navigate first, Sunday’s highly-anticipated clash in north London promises to be a pivotal encounter for both. But even though City will head into the game on the back of a league defeat, Odegaard, who scored in the Gunners’ victory at Bournemouth, has hinted that it won’t count for anything.
“This league is so tough. You say that everyone can beat everyone, and you have to be sharp, ready for every game, and it is such a busy schedule now.
“So we have to focus on ourselves and make sure we are ready for next week.”
Arsenal are one of only two sides who are still unbeaten in the Premier League so far this season, sharing that status with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners have won five and drawn two of their opening seven games, meaning they occupy third spot, behind second-placed Spurs on goal difference.
City, however, should take encouragement from the fact that Arsenal have won just two of their opening four home league games this season. They are also yet to keep a clean sheet on their own patch in the league this term.
