Arteta reveals how Odegaard’s injury changed his team, reveals his return date

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that the London club have had to be “different” while captain Martin Odegaard is sidelined by an ankle problem.

Odegaard has missed Arsenal’s last six games with the injury he suffered playing for Norway last month, however, his absence has not stopped the team from winning.

Arteta has also been forced to change his plans and that might continue for the next few weeks. Speaking on Friday, Arteta stated that Odegaard is working so hard to return, but his return date is still unknown.

Martin Odegaard walks from the tunnel during the UEFA Champions League between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain (Photo by Ryan Pierse – UEFA/Getty Images)

“We had to be different,” said Arteta, whose side host winless Southampton on Saturday. “The impact Martin has in everything that we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player.

“We’ve tried to do it in a different way, adapting a few things, using players’ qualities, players that can play in different positions and with the right chemistry around them.

“Maybe it took a game or two but then things started to flow a bit better. We found a way, but we still miss him.”

He added: “We don’t have Martin, there are all the things that we cannot do. But as well we have a big threat in other areas and we have to make the most of them.”

Arsenal since Odegaard’s injury have played a new formation. In a tweak to Mikel Arteta’s usual 4-2-3-1 formation, Kai Havertz has played alongside Trossard in a two-man strike partnership.

Trossard has benefitted in this new setup, scoring in the Premier League as well as the Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain this week.