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Odegaard covered his face with his hands while being treated on the field midway through the second half of a Nations League game against Austria on Monday. Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard is uncertain for Sunday’s North London derby after being seen on crutches while boarding a flight to London. Ødegaard sustained an ankle injury during Norway Nations League victory over Austria in Oslo on Monday, leaving the pitch in distress and requiring a substitution in the second half.
Arsenal will assess Ødegaard’s condition upon his return to London on Tuesday, but his participation in the match against Tottenham is in serious doubt. Photos of him using crutches, published by VG, suggest he may face a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori also suffered an ankle injury during Italy Nations League clash with France but has already returned to London and is working to be fit for Sunday.
Ødegaard injury comes at a particularly challenging time for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta may be without his entire first-choice midfield for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. New signing Mikel Merino is sidelined with a shoulder fracture and unlikely to debut until October, while Declan Rice is suspended due to his recent red card against Brighton.
The timing of Ødegaard injury is particularly unfortunate with Arsenal set to begin their Champions League campaign against Atalanta on Thursday, followed by a visit to Manchester City on Sunday. Arteta faces a tactical challenge in reshaping his midfield. Options include redeploying Leandro Trossard or Kai Havertz, though Havertz potential role may hinge on the fitness of Gabriel Jesus, who has been out with a groin issue. Raheem Sterling could also make his debut on the left wing if Trossard is repositioned.
Arsenal remaining experienced midfielders are Thomas Partey and Jorginho, but Arteta may consider younger players like Ethan Nwaneri or Myles Lewis-Skelly or potentially shift defenders such as Oleksandr Zinchenko or Jurrien Timber into midfield roles.
Why Arsenal cannot afford to lose Odegaard
Arsenal fortunes are deeply intertwined with the performance of their captain, Martin Ødegaard. As the linchpin of Mikel Arteta squad, Ødegaard influence extends beyond his world-class abilities with the ball. His leadership and creativity make him an indispensable asset for the team.
Last season, Ødegaard was the Premier League most creative player, topping the expected assists tally with 11.17, narrowly ahead of teammate Bukayo Saka. who managed 11. Ødegaard’s role in Arsenal pressing game is equally vital. He led the league in possession wins in the final third and was among the top five for pressures resulting in turnovers. His absence would not only impact Arsenal’s attacking fluidity but also their defensive intensity.
As Arsenal head into Sunday North London derby against Tottenham, they face a significant midfield crisis. Mikel Merino is sidelined with a fractured shoulder and Declan Rice is suspended following his red card against Brighton. The departure of Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira during the transfer window has left Arsenal alarmingly short in central midfield. Ødegaard potential absence, Arteta is forced to rely heavily on Thomas Partey, who has his own fitness concerns.
Arteta faces a challenging decision regarding who to pair with Partey in the No. 8 role. Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard are the primary candidates, but each brings different attributes to the table. Alternatively, Arteta could turn to youth, with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly showing promise in pre-season. Additionally, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who have experience in midfield roles, might be considered.
This predicament comes at a particularly tough time for Arsenal, with three demanding away fixtures against Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City within the first week after the international break. Having already dropped points to Brighton, Arsenal can ill afford further slip-ups in their fierce title race with Manchester City. The pressure is on Arteta and his squad to navigate these challenges and maintain their competitive edge.
Martin Odegaard Arsenal injury update before Tottenham with huge Mikel Arteta admission made
Norway manager Stale Solbakken was unable to provide any reassuring updates after Martin Ødegaard sustained a concerning ankle injury in Monday night Nations League B match against Austria. Ødegaard. who had been instrumental for Norway, was visibly distressed and had to be helped off the pitch by physios after just 60 minutes. The injury occurred when his left ankle buckled under a tackle from Austria Christoph Baumgartner.
For Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, this injury comes at an specially challenging time. Ødegaard had been a key figure for Arsenal, starting in all four of their games this season before the international break. His fitness is now crucial as Arsenal prepare for the first North London Derby of the season against Tottenham this weekend.
After the match, which Norway won 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Erling Haaland, Solbakken could not provide much optimism. It looked bad in the dressing room too,” he said, indicating the severity of Ødegaard condition. He didn’t have the nerve to continue. It is not certain that Arteta will call me tonight and praise me. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Norway medical team, led by Dr. Ola Sand, could not provide an immediate recovery timeline. Sand mentioned that Ødegaard had suffered a small ankle sprain and that further tests, including possibly an MRI, would be conducted to assess the injury extent.
Arsenal midfield options are already thin with Declan Rice suspended following his red card against Brighton and Mikel Merino sidelined due to a shoulder injury incurred during training. The injury woes extend beyond Ødegaard, as new defender Riccardo Calafiori also suffered an injury during Italy 3-1 victory over France. Calafiori has since returned to Arsenal’s training ground for assessment and recovery.
Arteta will be anxiously awaiting news on Ødegaard condition, hoping that the injury is less severe than initially feared. The Arsenal manager faces a significant challenge in preparing his squad for the upcoming fixtures and Ødegaard potential absence only exacerbates the difficulties.
Three ways Arsenal can replace Martin Odegaard as Mikel Arteta faces North London Derby dilemma
Martin Odegaard suffering an ankle injury for his national team during a week ahead of three massive games for Arsenal is definitely a nightmare situation that Mikel Arteta needs to respond to. An innocuous moment which seemed unlucky more than anything escalated an already concerning week for the Gunners’ skipper who suffered some issues against Brighton and in training.
while the extent of the injury is so far unknown, the club will need to have contingencies in place in order not to be unprepared going into these three games. The North London Derby is up first on Sunday and then a midweek game against Atalanta before a trip to Manchester City.
While Arsenal did not replace the loaned-out Fabio Vieira, the club has taken a different approach to squad building. Players are signed as assets for several positions and as such the club are prepared if multiple players suffer problems and with that said football.london takes a look at the three ways the Norwegian could be replaced this weekend.
Kai Havertz
The first is of course to move Kai Havertz from the centre-forward position into a role not exactly like Odegaard current position but instead similar to what he did for Germany this weekend. Playing off Niclas Fullkrug, Havertz helped to facilitate the German attack as a second striker and with hope Gabriel Jesus might be back this might indeed be how Arteta chooses to go.
