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Nigeria international Gift Orban (22) says Olympique Lyon are now focused on having a great season, despite their loss to Arsenal in Sunday’s Emirates Cup clash. First-half goals from William Saliba and Gabriel powered the Gunners to a 2-0 victory over the Ligue 1 side, as Mikel Arteta’s men clinched the title for a record eighth time.
Les Gones gained confidence after the introduction of Mahamadou Diawara, Mama Balde, Ernest Nuamah, and Orban. However, they were unable to mount a comeback. The former Gent striker remains unfazed by the result, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to see Pierre Sage’s men 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 in an exclusive interview. “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.”
The introduction of Orban for Georgian international Georges Mikautadze injected new energy into Lyon’s attack, causing the Arsenal defenders some challenging moments. When asked if starting could have changed the outcome at the Emirates Stadium, he continued “You never know - if the manager had given me a spot in the starting lineup, I might have made the difference. “We have a very good team and I am always ready to give my best whenever I am called upon to play.” Orban describes his first season at the club as challenging, as he struggled to adapt to life with the French top-tier team.
After an outstanding season with Belgian club Gent, the Benue-born striker was signed by the seven-time Ligue 1 champions in January 2024 for a reported fee of €12 million. He managed just three goals in 16 appearances across all competitions, but greater expectations were placed on the Nigerian following his arrival at the Groupama Stadium. Orban acknowledges that he initially struggled to adjust to his new environment but now feels settled and ready to contribute to the club's efforts to re-establish themselves as one of the top teams in Europe.
