Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard may not be out for as long as Mikel Arteta fears as the Gunners prepare for the challenges of Atalanta and Manchester City this week.
Odegaard picked up ankle ligament damage during Norway’s match with Austria in the Nations League. The midfielder was spotted on crutches but it was unclear how long he would be out for.
The former Real Madrid man was immediately ruled out of the North London Derby victory and during his pre-Atalanta press conference, Arteta confirmed Odegaard would miss both matches this week. “After recent scans the scans showed that he’s got some damage especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle,” the Spaniard explained.
“It’s something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while.” When asked for a timeline, Arteta replied: “We are going to miss him.
“I don’t want to [give a timeline] because I am not a doctor but yes, it is something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months, but let’s see.”
However, in an unlikely glimmer of hope for the Gunners, Odegaard’s national team manager Stale Solbakken hinted to Norwegian media outlet NRK that the midfielder could be back sooner than anticipated. “We are preparing with a plan with Martin and one without,” Solbakken explained when asked for his reaction on the injury.
The head coach was referring to the next international break which comes at the beginning of October. On October 10, Norway host Slovenia before travelling to Austria on October 13 in the Nations League.
Of course, we shall know where Odegaard’s progress lies before these matches when Solbakken names his squad for the international break which is expected in late September or early October.
