Arteta gives injury update on Odegaard ahead of Man City clash

Ahead of Arsenal’s match against Manchester City, manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the fitness of Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian playmaker has been a crucial part of Arsenal’s setup, but fans will have to wait to see him back in action after the 25-year-old suffered an ankle injury while on international duty.

Arsenal, who are currently two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City after four matches, face their biggest test of the season against Pep Guardiola’s side. With Odegaard being their captain and one of their most consistent performers snice his arrival, his absence represents a substantial blow to their ambitions.

Speaking in his pre-Atalanta press conference on Wednesday, Arteta confirmed that Odegaard had sustained ankle ligament damage, leaving a significant question mark over his availability for upcoming fixtures.

“After everything was scanned, they showed there was some damage, especially in one of the ligaments in the ankle, so we’re going to miss him,” Arteta explained. “I don’t want to [put a timeframe on it] because I am not a doctor, but it is something quite significant, so we’re going to lose him for a while – hopefully not months, but let’s see.”

Arteta added: “He’s our captain – he’s one of our biggest players. He’s been one of the most consistent players in the last two or three seasons.”

Speaking ahead of the game against City, Arteta was still reluctant to put a timeframe on Odegaard’s return. “We need to see the development in the next week or so, how the ankle reacts first of all and then the staff will give me an update on the timeframe and how long he’ll be out for,” Arteta said.

A report from Team News and Ticks suggests that the Gunners’ skipper is targeting a November return. Should this timeline hold, Odegaard will miss key matches in October, including high-profile games against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Liverpool in the Premier League.

Other fixtures against Southampton, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Bournemouth will also have to be navigated without the midfielder’s influence.

Physio Scout, a trusted source on injuries, speculated on Twitter that Odegaard’s injury could involve the Anterior Talofibular Ligament (ATFL), one of the most commonly injured ligaments in the ankle, typically occurring during activities that involve sudden twists or rolls of the ankle.

The ATFL is a key ligament on the outside of the ankle that helps stabilise it, especially during foot movements like walking and running. Injuries to the ATFL range from mild sprains to complete tears.

Symptoms include swelling, pain, and instability of the ankle. Treatment usually involves rest, ice, compression, and sometimes physical therapy or surgery for severe cases.

If this is indeed the case, and it is not severe, it is typically an injury that sidelines players for around a month, which would align with the November return date being floated.

Odegaard, who picked up the injury while playing for Norway in their UEFA Nations League match against Austria on 9 September, will also miss the October international break, leaving Norway without their talismanic captain for crucial matches.

No Arsenal fan cares about that.

Arteta’s men will hope that Odegaard can recover swiftly and be back in time for the key fixtures in November, including away trips to Newcastle United, Inter Milan, and Chelsea. Until then, Arsenal will have to navigate the coming weeks without their captain, hoping that his absence does not derail their promising start to the season.