Arsenal club captain Martin Odegaard has discussed the injuries impacting Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling, with the duo set for a spell on the sidelines.
It comes as the Gunners have been hit with yet more key problems in their squad, with a full-strength team rarely available to Mikel Arteta.
The latest conundrum comes on the right wing, with Bukayo Saka suffering a torn hamstring and Raheem Sterling dealing with a knee injury.
It means the manager will have some short-term dilemmas for quickfire matches against the likes of Ipswich Town, Brentford and Brighton.
In the long term, there may be further questions about how the transfer market could help change Arsenal again.
Martin Odegaard discusses Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling injuries
With Saka and Sterling set for a long spell out of the team, Arsenal star Martin Odegaard has discussed the impact of losing the pair.
Speaking in the Arsenal programme before the match against Ipswich Town, the club captain revealed how the side will respond.
He said: “We’ll be without Bukayo and Raheem for a few weeks now, and together with the other lads that are currently injured, we’ll all be supporting them during their recoveries.
“This is part of football, and of course, I’ve been out this season, so I can really relate with them at the moment. They will come back stronger and we’ll be with them all the way.”
With Odegaard’s own experience of being out injured, he may be able to offer some support to the pair while they are unavailable.
It’s unclear exactly when the duo may return, though Saka is expected to be out for a couple of months while the full extent of Sterling’s injury is unknown.
Martin Odegaard’s impact in Bukayo Saka’s injury absence
With Saka now out of action, Odegaard will have the responsibility of creating chances even more than he did before.
The club captain has helped keep that right side ticking since returning to action from his own injury, with his connection to the winger on that side causing the opposition problems.
Regardless of who is there, the Norway international will have to be at his best to help create chances on a consistent basis.
Whether he can do that without the threat of Saka, or even Sterling, remains to be seen but there will certainly be more responsibility on his shoulders.
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