Martin Odegaard has specified two very tough games Arsenal suffered this season as they compete for glory in the Premier League and Champions League.
The Gunners face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, aiming to win the trophy for the first time in the club’s entire history.
Arsenal are involved in a tense Premier League title race too – with Manchester City and Liverpool – trying to secure their first top-flight trophy in 20 years.
The north Londoners have only lost four top-flight games this season – beaten by Newcastle, Aston Villa, West Ham and Fulham across November and December.
In the Champions League, they lost to RC Lens in the group stage and suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 victory over Porto.
Arsenal turned it around in the second leg to progress on penalties, though, and Odegaard has highlighted just how difficult they found both games against Porto.
‘Those were two very tough games against Porto in the last round,’ Odegaard told the Arsenal website.
‘We had to give everything, they pushed us all the way but we got there in the end. It was an amazing feeling to win it on penalties.
‘Now I think we have to use that whole experience, and reflect on our performances over those two legs, to grow and develop more as a group. We are still a young squad, but that was another big experience for everyone.
‘I think it was a massive boost for us, sometimes you can take more from winning close ones like that. We had to dig deep, show our mentality, show some game management and I can tell you we were exhausted afterwards.’
Bayern Munich fans have been unable to travel to the Emirates for Tuesday’s clash against Arsenal and Odegaard is hoping to make the stadium a fortress.
‘[They] have a lot of history in this competition, and have been at the top for so long, so it’s going to another big challenge for us, and a great experience here at our home,’ the Arsenal captain added.
‘We will have the whole stadium as well tonight, so hopefully that can make a big difference in our favour, and it’s up to us to take full advantage of that.’
