Mikel Arteta response to Martin Odegaard question now speaks volumes about Arsenal squad

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Arsenal are feeling the effects of missing Martin Odegaard.

Martin Odegaard hasn’t featured for Arsenal since picking up an injury whilst on international duty with Norway back in September. 

Leandro Trossard has most frequently deputised for the playmaker whilst he has been sidelined, with mixed results. The Belgian has produced moments of quality, but has also struggled at times. Trossard was one of Arsenal’s worst performers against Newcastle United yesterday. 

Mikel Arteta’s side were beaten 1-0 by the Magpies on Saturday afternoon, severely denting their Premier League title hopes. 

Arsenal fans missed Odegaard at St James’ Park, as the North London club lacked creativity to a devastating degree, mustering just one shot on target in the match.

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Mikel Arteta makes Martin Odegaard admission after Arsenal loss

After this dismal defeat on Tyneside, Arteta was quizzed about Odegaard.

As quoted by the official Arsenal website, the manager shared his thoughts on how his side can cope without the former Real Madrid man.

He said: “We don’t have him. You know, we can discuss all day long that at the moment we don’t have him, we haven’t had him for the last 4-6 weeks and we don’t have him yet, but we have many other answers which have been very effective.

“Today, we need to look at ourselves, congratulate Newcastle and move on.”

Whilst the Arsenal club captain is undeniably a key player, and will come straight back into the regular starting XI when he is fit to do so, the Gunners still ought to have been able to generate more in the final third against Newcastle.

On top of Trossard falling short of the standard required in the North East, the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli were also poor.

It is clear, though, that Arsenal lack attacking strength in depth, and that frailty in their squad could easily prove their undoing in the title race.

When will Arsenal get Martin Odegaard back?

Odegaard could be fit to face Inter Milan in Arsenal’s Champions League fixture on Wednesday evening. 

It would be a huge boost to have the 25-year-old back in action, but Arteta will still have to handle this final stage of his rehabilitation with care.

Odegaard needs to be eased back into the fold slowly and allowed time to build up his match fitness again.

If Arteta misjudges this process and forces the midfielder to play too much too quickly, then he runs the risk of aggravating the injury all over again.