Martin Odegaard made his Arsenal return after an injury layoff just before the international break.
Having picked up an injury issue during the September international break, Martin Odegaard did not feature again for Arsenal until his late substitute appearance against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
The Norwegian playmaker then played the full match as the Gunners battled to a draw against Chelsea in a Premier League encounter.
Arsenal fans missed Odegaard during his injury, and he was certainly able to make an impact against the Blues upon his Premier League return, as he provided the assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal.
How Martin Odegaard stunned Mikel Arteta and Arsenal staff during recovery
Mikel Arteta’s side struggled whilst Odegaard was sidelined, as the former Real Madrid man is the creative hub of this Arsenal team, and a leader on and off the pitch.
The club captain leads and orchestrates the Arsenal press, demands maximum effort and focus from his teammates, and leads by example with the commitment and quality of his performances.
Odegaard has been called a perfect Arsenal captain due to his work ethic and dedication. These attributes even came to the fore as he was recovering from his recent injury.
As reported by The Athletic: “That Odegaard could exhibit such stamina immediately upon returning is testament to the dedication he showed during his rehabilitation. Arsenal’s staff were delighted with how he followed their instructions, doing everything possible to accelerate his recovery.
“Whether it was wearing protective boots or undergoing red-light therapy, Odegaard left no stone unturned in his attempts to regain fitness as soon as possible.”
Technology played a key role in Odegaard’s recovery process, as the Arsenal club doctors and the player himself were determined to get him back in action.
However, Arteta will still have to be cautious not to overburden the 25-year-old. His game time will still need to be managed carefully for a while, to ensure that he does not aggravate his injury.
How important is Odegaard to Arsenal?
The last thing the Gunners can afford at this stage is for Odegaard to suffer a setback in his rehabilitation and face another period on the treatment table. As Leandro Trossard has now picked up an injury, Arteta would find it even harder to cope without the skipper.
The midfielder is certainly committed to keeping himself in the best possible condition for Arsenal, though. After all, Odegaard chose not to join the Norway squad during this international break, in order to focus on this final stage of his recovery.
If Arsenal are to stand any chance of being crowned Premier League champions this season, they will need Odegaard to remain fit and firing on all cylinders for the rest of the campaign.
Equally, Odegaard’s recent absence will have taught Arteta a vital lesson about his Arsenal squad. The Spanish coach must now make bringing in reliable cover for Odegaard a top priority in the upcoming January transfer window.
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