Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is set to miss at least three weeks of action due to an ankle injury he sustained during the international break. As per Arsenal Fanatics News, the midfielder will miss seven crucial games that can have an impact on the Gunner’s title ambitions.
The Norwegian international suffered a concerning ankle injury after a tussle with Austrian defender Christoph Baumgartner. He was escorted off the field in the second half and later seen on crutches as he boarded the flight back to England.
Arsenal’s medical team are on their toes, and the player is due to have another scan on his ankle today. Norwegian doctor Ole Sand earlier confirmed that there is no breach on the player’s foot, but it will take a minimum of three weeks for him to return.
WHICH GAMES WILL ODEGAARD MISS FOR ARSENAL?
Mikel Arteta’s side are playing the North London Derby this week, followed by six more games until the first week of October. Odegaard won’t be able to make it for two crucial Premier League away clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. The team will miss the midfield maestro’s service, and it remains to be seen who will take his undisputed spot in the starting XI.
The former Real Madrid star will also miss the UEFA Champions League group stage match vs Atalanta (away) this week. Next up will be the EFL Cup contest against Bolton (home) and a PL clash against Leicester City (home), with both games scheduled in the final week of this month.
🚨 Arsenal fixtures Martin Ødegaard is expected to MISS through injury:
Tottenham A
Atalanta A
Manchester City A
Bolton H
Leicester City H
PSG H
Southampton H#afc #arsenalfanaticsnews pic.twitter.com/IOVMb7Fb5l— Arteta’s Red Army #ArsenalFanaticsNews (@Arsenal23Wenger) September 11, 2024
Keeping in mind his expected return date, Odegaard will also miss the important game against French elite Paris Saint-Germain (home) on the 2nd of October, followed by a league game vs Southampton (away) on the 5th of October.
Arteta has to deal with a major selection headache with several key stars absent. Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus (doubtful), and Takehiro Tomiyasu won’t feature against Spurs. The manager might shift Kai Havertz in midfield or use youngster Ethan Nwaneri in Odegaard’s spot.
Arsenal fans won’t be pleased by a sudden outbreak of injuries. Replacing the captain will be a tough task, and we hope that it doesn’t cost the Gooners vital points this month. It’s time for others to step up and prove their worth to the team.
