BREAKING NEWS: “You have until this week to pack your belongings and leave” – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has formally instructed the £120m valued player to depart this week or risk having his contract terminated.

Martin Ødegaard has urged Arsenal to adopt a more aggressive and direct playing style after their 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, a result that hampered their pursuit of Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

The Arsenal captain expressed his disappointment post-match, highlighting key areas for improvement following the underwhelming performance.

In a Sky Sports interview, Ødegaard stressed the need for Arsenal to focus solely on their game. “We have to focus on ourselves. We don’t care about the other teams,” he stated.

While acknowledging the positives, he insisted the team must do more to secure victories. “We need to put the ball in the box more often and be a bit more direct and aggressive. We could have won it in the end.” His remarks reflect growing concerns about Arsenal’s struggles in open play, with their last three goals coming from set pieces.

The match started disastrously for Arsenal when defensive lapses allowed Fulham to take the lead in the 11th minute. Jakub Kiwior’s misjudgment of a long ball enabled Raúl Jiménez to break through, while William Saliba’s failure to close down the striker and David Raya’s inability to make a save worsened Arsenal’s plight. Despite dominating possession, Fulham created few chances, registering an xG of just 0.14.

Arsenal equalized in the second half when Saliba headed in a Declan Rice corner, assisted by Kai Havertz. However, breaking down Fulham’s well-organized defense in open play remained a challenge. Arsenal’s struggles in this area are reflected in their Premier League ranking of 13th for open-play xG.

Late in the game, Bukayo Saka appeared to have netted a winner from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross, only for VAR to disallow the goal due to a narrow offside call against Martinelli. Arsenal was forced to settle for a point, leaving Ødegaard to stress the importance of taking each game as it comes.

Injuries further limited Mikel Arteta’s tactical options, with Riccardo Calafiori sidelined and Jurrien Timber playing out of position.

Thomas Partey also struggled to link effectively with Ødegaard and Saka from right-back, while Kiwior’s uncertain form and Gabriel’s absence in defense exposed Arsenal’s vulnerabilities.

Ødegaard’s call for urgency and adaptability comes at a crucial juncture, with Arsenal now trailing Liverpool by six points. As the busy festive season approaches, immediate improvements will be vital to remain competitive in the title race.