Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that club captain Martin Odegaard will be out of action for an extended period due to significant ankle ligament damage. Odegaard sustained the injury during Norway’s Nations League match against Austria. The scans conducted upon his return to Arsenal revealed the extent of the damage, which Arteta described as “quite significant”.
Arteta expressed his disappointment at losing such a pivotal player, stating, “The scan showed some damage around the ligaments in the ankle, so we are going to miss him. It’s something quite significant, so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months”.
Odegaard’s absence is a significant setback for Arsenal, as the 25-year-old has been instrumental in the team’s recent successes. Arteta added, “He’s our captain. He’s been one of the biggest and best players in our team. Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It’s a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face”.
Arsenal faces a challenging run of fixtures in the coming weeks, including crucial Premier League matches against Manchester City and Leicester, as well as key Champions League encounters. The team will need to adapt quickly to cope with the absence of their captain and maintain their momentum in both competitions.
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