The Arsenal captain made clear that the Premier League side had fallen short of the standard expected after a 1-1 draw was followed by a 5-3 penalty defeat against the League Two club in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
“It is really frustrating to go out. Obviously, we did not reach a good enough level. We have to do much, much better than we did here,” Ødegaard said through Arsenal’s official channels.
Fleetwood Town, who sit 84 places below Arsenal in the English league pyramid, took the lead through Aaron Loupalo-Bi before Viktor Gyökeres equalised after half-time. The teams could not be separated again, and Fleetwood converted their penalties while Bruno Guimarães missed for Arsenal.
Ødegaard, who came on at half-time, acknowledged the hosts’ achievement but said Arsenal had to move on quickly rather than dwell on the upset.
“Frustrating, but congratulations to Fleetwood, and then we look forward to the next games, where we can hit back,” he said.
The defeat leaves Arsenal with one fewer opportunity to win silverware this season, but the captain’s attention quickly turned to Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.
“We cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We have to move on,” Ødegaard said.
The Norwegian also thanked the supporters who travelled to Fleetwood, recognising the distance they had covered to back the team.
“Many thanks to them. It is a long journey, so I just want to say thank you and sorry for the result.”
Arsenal’s exit was made more difficult by Max Dowman’s late red card. The 16-year-old was dismissed after reacting to a challenge from Harrison Neal, leaving Arsenal to finish the match with ten players. The incident is also likely to draw attention after the teenager had been sent off while playing for England Under-19s earlier in the month.
Fleetwood’s victory was secured when goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimarães’ penalty, before Conor Haughey converted the decisive kick. It was a memorable result for the League Two side, who advanced to the quarter-finals at the expense of the reigning Premier League champions.
For Ødegaard and Arsenal, the next task is to respond at Anfield. The captain’s message was direct: accept the disappointment, credit the opposition and show a better level in the next match. His comments reflected the frustration of the travelling support, but also the short turnaround before a demanding league fixture.
Arsenal cannot change the result at Fleetwood; their response at Liverpool will be the first chance to show that the defeat has not carried into the Premier League campaign.