Nigeria international Gift Orban remains focused on Olympique Lyon’s upcoming season despite their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Emirates Cup.
First-half goals from William Saliba and Gabriel secured the victory for the Gunners, who clinched the title for a record eighth time.
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Orban, who was introduced in the second half, injected new energy into Lyon’s attack, causing Arsenal’s defense some challenging moments. Despite the loss, the former Gent striker emphasized that Lyon’s priority is to excel in the 2024/25 campaign.
“We’re disappointed with the loss to Arsenal, but it was a challenging match against a formidable opponent,” Orban told Flashscore.
“Even though we gave it our all, we came up short. That’s how football goes, but we’ve moved on from the loss. We’ll keep putting in the hard work as the main target is to ensure we have a great season.”
Reflecting on his first season at Lyon, Orban admitted it was challenging to adapt to the French top tier. After a standout season with Gent, where he set a record for the fastest hat-trick in UEFA competition history, Orban was signed by Lyon for €12 million in January 2024. However, he struggled initially, managing just three goals in 16 appearances.
“It was difficult to settle in because I was playing under a new manager and in a different environment,” Orban explained. “The French league is tough and very physical, but I have no excuses—I’m here to give my best.”
As Lyon prepares for the new season, Orban is optimistic about the team’s potential, particularly in the Europa League. “I can’t predict how we’ll perform, but I can promise we’ll work hard to build on last year’s achievements,” he added.
Lyon begins their Ligue 1 campaign on August 18th against Rennes at Roazhon Park.
