It was a dramatic Monday night time for Arsenal supporters, who noticed captain Martin Odegaard limp off in tears 67 minutes into Norway’s UEFA Nations League victory over Austria.
2024/25 is a big season for this Gunners outfit having twice pushed Manchester Metropolis within the title race, with Mikel Arteta maybe having just one extra probability to usurp Pep Guardiola earlier than the Metropolis boss jets off into the sundown – and guides England to World Cup glory in New York.
Membership captain Odegaard is essential to Arteta’s Arsenal. His spectacular availability and undoubted brilliance with the ball at his toes means it is exhausting to think about the Premier League title hopefuls functioning optimally with out him.
It is a nervy time for supporters given how important a chronic Odegaard absence may doubtlessly be.
This is the most recent on Odegaard’s harm setback and when he may return to motion.
Martin Odegaard heading again to London this morning.
Arsenal’s medical division are ready to evaluate him later in the present day to find out the total extent of his ankle harm. pic.twitter.com/ycoSB3BoY3
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) September 10, 2024
The Norway captain twisted his ankle whereas difficult for a free ball with Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner.
A nonetheless picture of the incident confirmed Odegaard’s ankle twisting 90 levels, and Norway’s staff physician Ola Sand confirmed post-match that the midfielder had picked up a “small ankle sprain”. Odegaard was pressured off of Norway’s 2-1 win after 67 minutes, with the tearful skipper limping off whereas assisted by two physios.
Whereas Sand described Odegaard’s harm as a “small ankle sprain”, the severity of the harm is not going to grow to be totally clear till the midfielder has undergone an MRI scan.
Arsenal’s captain will fly again to London and have his MRI on Tuesday. A clearer image of when Odegaard may return to motion will then develop.
If Odegaard has merely sustained a grade one sprain, he’ll possible be day-to-day and in a position to return comparatively rapidly. Nevertheless, a grade two or three harm will sideline the 25-year-old for weeks – possibly even months.
That can, after all, rely on the severity of Odegaard’s ankle harm, however the preliminary indicators aren’t overly promising for Odegaard. Furthermore, his setback has arrived at a really busy time within the calendar with Arsenal’s Champions League marketing campaign quickly getting underway.
Earlier than the Gunners journey to Atalanta subsequent Thursday, Arteta’s aspect tackle Tottenham away from house in an early-season north London derby. The Arsenal captain will battle to be concerned on Sunday even when he is sustained a grade one sprain.
After their journey to Bergamo, Arsenal face Manchester Metropolis on the Etihad on 22 September. So, even when Odegaard is dominated out for 2 weeks, he’ll miss three large away video games. The Gunners face Leicester on the Emirates the next Saturday earlier than internet hosting Paris Saint-Germain of their second Champions League league section encounter on 1 October.
Odegaard has been a key participant for Arteta’s Arsenal ever since he signed completely in 2021. If he’s dominated out for a prolonged time period, the Gunners boss will certainly have to alter tack. With Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira leaving in the summertime, Arteta has fewer pure replacements and he is unlikely to name upon teenager Ethan Nwaneri for Arsenal’s essential upcoming fixtures.
Mikel Merino is out till October with a shoulder harm, whereas Declan Rice is suspended for Sunday’s derby.
Bukayo Saka might be utilized in a proper central-midfield position with Raheem Sterling holding the width down the flank, or Arteta may shift to a double pivot and utilise Saka, Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard as extra of a quantity ten.
Nice coaches and the perfect groups adapt with out little fuss. Odegaard’s absence will undoubtedly take a look at Arteta’s teaching capability to the very best diploma.
