JUST NOW:Martin Odeaagard reveals what has changed at Arsenal amid poor run of form

Arteta echoed his captain’s thoughts in his pre-match press conference. “We weren’t at the level,” he said of the past two matches. “We weren’t good enough. I don’t think we deserved to lose the match, but we didn’t do enough to win it.”

Asked if he was worried if the run might continue, he said: “Hopefully not because it was a one-off. I haven’t seen the team do what we did in certain periods of the match so hopefully not.”

Martin Odegaard thinks that Arsenal’s recent struggles have come because the team now have a target on their back.

The Gunners have dropped to fourth in the Premier League following consecutive defeats against West Ham and Fulham. Mikel Arteta ’s side have laboured in attack of late, scoring just 37 goals in the league – considerably fewer than the other top five sides.

The first-choice front three of Gabriel Jesus (three), Bukayo Saka (six) and Gabriel Martinelli (two) have managed just 11 goals between them in the Premier League this season. Odegaard is not concerned by the dip in form and puts it down to the way their opponents are setting up against them.

“After what we did last season and the beginning of this season, teams are analysing us and looking at what we’re doing in games,” he said ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool on Sunday. “They’re trying to stop us playing to our strengths. Are they dropping deeper? Yeah, I think so.

“I like that challenge. It’s a good sign, to feel like teams are coming here and showing that they respect you. We just have to find different spaces and to play well enough to deal with it.”

Arsenal have scored just five goals in their past six matches across all competitions, drawing blanks against both Aston Villa and West Ham. They are now five points off leaders Liverpool in the Premier League and will look to get back on track against Jurgen Klopp ’s side at the Emirates Stadium.

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They have not played since going down 2-1 to Fulham on New Year’s Eve. Saka gave them an early lead at Craven Cottage, but goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid saw the home side come from behind to win.

“I don’t think it was anywhere near the standards we’ve set for ourselves and the performances we’ve shown this season,” Odegaard said. “But this can happen, you know? Sometimes you don’t have the best day at the office, you have to learn from it and come back stronger. This is the moment to show that against Liverpool. That’s what we’re going to try and do.”