Martin Odegaard fires warning to Arsenal after Aston Villa defeat

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has warned that the Gunners need to be more "ruthless" in front of goal if they are to avoid dropping points in the Premier League title race.

Liverpool finished the weekend top of the table after taking advantage of Arsenal's defeat to Aston Villa, who themselves are positioning into a surprise title challenge.

The Gunners had a goal disallowed that Mikel Arteta took exception to and were denied a possible penalty. But they also had more of the ball than Villa, as well as more shots and more efforts on target, yet were still unable to find the breakthrough and slipped to a 1-0 defeat.

"We have to take our chances," Odegaard reflected.

"When you come to a place like [Villa Park] it is always tough. So you have to be ruthless in front of goal – myself included, I missed a few big ones, so that's annoying. But the only thing we can do is work hard to improve and bounce back in the next one."

Arsenal travelled to the West Midlands off the back of six consecutive wins in all competitions – including four in the Premier League – but had experienced a similar story at Newcastle last month.

With Arteta left raging over VAR and Newcastle's winner, Arsenal dominated the ball and out-shot their opponents without getting on the scoresheet to render the controversy irrelevant. Those are the only two Premier League games the Gunners have lost of 16 played so far this season, but both could prove to be 'what if' moments should the race come May go down to the wire.

Arsenal are back in action on Tuesday against PSV Eindhoven, with Arteta expected to rotate his squad as the Gunners have already cemented their spot as winners of their Champions League group.

The chance for an immediate response in the Premier League will come on Sunday when Brighton & Hove Albion come to town.

READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP