Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has recovered from an injury sustained on Sunday just in time for the season-defining UEFA Champions League away fixture against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The North London outfit suffered a shock defeat at home to Aston Villa over the weekend. Late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins sent the Emirates into stillness and meant Arsenal lost ground in the premier league title race.
Despite being only 2 points behind last season’s winner, Manchester City, several football experts have already ruled out Arsenal’s chances of clinching the Premier League title this year with only six matches remaining.
Arsenal found themselves in a similar position last season, ultimately finishing second, 5 points behind Manchester City.
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Arsenal was the bookmakers’ favourite to win the reverse UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash last Tuesday, but could only manage a 2-2 draw, conceding first-half goals to former gunner Serge Gnabry and familiar foe Harry Kane.
With Manchester City expected to retain the Premier League title, Wednesday’s match represents Arsenal’s strongest opportunity to dispel any talks of a disappointing season. To most, the stakes have never been higher and the outcome could well define their season.
Rio Ferdinand, who won the 2008 Champions League with Manchester United, describes Wednesday’s match as the ‘biggest game of Arsenal’s season’, given recent events.
“If they lose that game,” Ferdinand says, “this team will never have been that low under Mikel Arteta. To have a week like this, where you were in control, to then lose control in the league and then you’re out of the Champions League, I would worry for Arsenal at that point.”
