Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard spoke to Sky Sports after the 4-2 win over Brighton today.
Here’s what they had to say.
Being 7 points clear at the top. How does it feel?
Saka: Yeah, it sounds amazing. Of course if you’d asked us at the start of the season if we’d want this, we’d bite your hands off, so we’re really happy.
City dropped points, was it on your minds?
Odegaard: No, we’ve said many times before that we focus on ourselves. We don’t care about the other teams. We came here, we wanted to get the three points, three points was everything and we did it.
A more anxious second half
Odegaard: Yeah, I think we need to control the game a little bit better. We let them into the game twice. They’re a difficult team to play against, they’re very good on the ball, but I think we can do better in some parts of the game.
Was there emphasis on a fast start?
Saka: There was a big emphasis, we know how hard it is to come here in recent seasons. With the weather it wasn’t so easy, so that early goal set us up.
I couldn’t believe it fell for me. I had to show some composure and put it in the far corner, and I’m happy I did.
Martin, not the greatest goal you ever scored but great timing.
Odegaard: I thought it was a great goal! Another important goal, and I like to help the team with goals and assists. That’s what I want to do as much as possible, and I’m very happy to do that again.
The pass for the fourth goal.
Odegaard: I saw that there was a lot of space in behind, and our wingers are so quick. So put the ball in the right space, put the right speed on the ball and it’s not easy to stop Martinelli. It was a great goal.
A long way to go, are you sensing opportunity?
Saka: We’ve put ourselves in a great place, we’re not focusing on that right now. We’re focusing on Newcastle, we know how well they’ve been playing so that’s our only focus right now.
7 points clear baby!!
Assist of the season for me on the Gabi goal. Our captain is one of the best in the world and we are lucky to have him.
A lot of players could have seen that pass, but how many would have executed it so perfectly?
A lot of players could have executed that pass, but how many could have seen it in time?
A lot of players couldn’t have seen that pass and a lot of players couldn’t have executed it to perfection. 8 is a different breed.
I think I need to pinch myself sometimes. 7 points clear is mad, who the hell saw this coming at the start of the season?! A bit shaky at the back today but Brighton away is no easy feat; another 3 points is great. The lads are absolutely right – forget about City and the others and just focus on us, and let’s see where it takes us.
The CHAMPS 💯♦️💍❤️💯↕️🏆🏆🏆🏆🎖️🎖️🎖️🎖️🎖️⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽ OF COURSE, WE WILL BEAT ANY TEAM….
I saw the makings of something special with that 2-1 City home loss last season. That performance was a huge “holy shit” moment for me. I won’t say I saw 43 points after 16 games and a seven point lead, but I saw the possibility of a strong title-challenging run, and it was clear by game 7 or 8 (not 14!) that that’s what was happening, imo
fantastic win played well against a very good Brighton side. I think this team need to refocus on starting to keep clean sheets again. It’s almost as if every game they’ll concede. I don’t mind if the opposition scores a wonder goal but the way Brighton scored especially the 2nd one Saliba was doing a Mustafi letting Brighton player run all over him that was not the saliba from before the WC he was shaky all game needs to wake up. and we need to tighten up. But good 3points especially today when man city dropped pointsa
Arteta has drilled this team on field and off field especially when speaking to the press. I won’t be surprised if an interview after winning the title goes like this:
Interviewers: You just won the title and you have Europa league and FA cup final coming up, What do you think about title and opponents?
Arsenal players: We’re focusing on ourselves and the next game.
I hope they pick Ben White 😜
I’m thinking of the interview after the Liverpool match I believe it was.
Sky: Ben, how does it feel to win the title?
Ben: the title? I hadn’t really noticed actually
The Kids Are Alright… ♪♫
They really are, but despite their youth there’s a maturity, intelligence and wisdom in the way they speak way beyond their years, it’s so exciting imagining what this group and coaching staff can achieve in the years ahead.
Yeah, we take it one day at a time.
… and one game at a time!