Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will be out for some couple of weeks after suffering a fresh injury setback during the club’s European campaign.
Odegaard has already endured a stop-start season due to fitness issues, he’s now set to miss out of Arsenal’s final push for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
The Norway international confirmed he is facing another period on the sidelines due to a kneel injury. Odegaard missed six weeks of action due to a previous knee issue before returning last week to start in the FA Cup defeat against Southampton.
However, his comeback appears to have been cut short following a flare-up during European competition.
Odegaard played an hour in the cup before starting against Sporting CP in the Champions League, but he went down off the ball during the clash in Lisbon.
Martin Ødegaard goes down injured during the clash against Sporting and he’s consoled by Arsenal teammate Gabriel Magalhães. (Photo by Diogo Faria Reis/MB Media/Getty Images)
Despite continuing for 10 minutes after the initial contact, the injury saw him missed Arsenal’s shocking loss against Bournemouth.
“I had to go off during the second half of that game in Portugal last week, feeling my knee, which is why I missed the game at the weekend,” Odegaard wrote in his official programme notes. The captain provided a glimmer of hope for the Emirates faithful, adding: “I caught it a little bit against Sporting, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“I’m desperate to get back as soon as possible because this is the crucial period of the season, in the Premier League and Champions League,” the midfielder added.
Odegaard will not be involved on Wednesday night in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting. It’s still not confirmed if he’ll be available to face Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.
Arsenal need a positive result against Pep Guardiola’s side as defeat will hand City the momentum and the chance to move to the summit before the Gunners next take to the pitch.
