Arsenal are having to cope with the absence of their captain Martin Odegaard, after he picked up an ankle injury during the International break.
Mikel Arteta’s side faced an incredibly tough week of away fixtures, which was made even more difficult as Odegaard returned from the break with an injury, and he missed all three matches.
It was recently reported that Odegaard could be set for several weeks on the sidelines, which comes as a huge blow for Arteta, given his importance on and off the pitch.
Odegaard’s creativity has been missed, with Arsenal scoring three goals in the three games without him, and just one of those came from open play as Riccardo Calafiori scored from long-distance against Manchester City.
The 25-year-old has now spoken for the first time since his injury, and revealed the difficulty he has faced in the last few weeks.
Martin Odegaard gives update on injury recovery
In his captain’s programme notes before Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash with Bolton, Odegaard explained how his recovery is progressing.
“It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there, but it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can,” he stated.
“I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.
“I’m at the Sobha Realty Training Centre basically every day now, working hard and doing everything I can do to get better.
“I have to be careful not to push it too much, but at the same time do what I can to make sure I come back as strongly and quickly as possible. I’m trying to support the team in a different way now, if I can’t be on the pitch. That’s my situation, and I have to make the best out of it.”
Martin Odegaard’s injury frustration could complicate Arsenal return
Odegaard has also explained why this injury was more painful than ones he has had in the past, which could complicate his return to action.
“It’s something I’m not used to. I’ve been quite fortunate, if that’s the word, or have done well to avoid injuries in the past, but this is football and I have to get on with it. I think it was unfortunate to get the injury in the way that I did, but also it could have been worse,” he added.
“It was not a nice twist, and when it happened I felt it could be serious. I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time.
“That’s what scared me, but from what happened it could have been worse, so in that sense I got away with it a bit.”
The Arsenal medical team have not yet put a timescale on his recovery, but Odegaard knows what he needs to do to be able to make a strong comeback.
“Like any player, the first thing I asked the medical team was how long I would be out for, but it’s a bit tricky to say at the moment,” Odegaard explained.
“In the early stages, it’s crucial to get a proper rest and to make sure everything heals well. After that it’s about getting stronger and building it up again.”
Arsenal will have to find a solution to Odegaard’s absence, as Leandro Trossard was sent off against Man City when playing in his role, and youngster Ethan Nwaneri may be an option for Arteta.
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