- Arsenal's captain Martin Odegaard sustained the injury during Norway’s Nations League match against Austria
- Odegaard will miss Arsenal’s upcoming UEFA Champions League tie against Atalanta
- The Gunners also brace for a tough encounter against Manchester City in the Premier League
In a frustrating turn of events for Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that club captain Martin Odegaard has suffered a “quite significant” ankle ligament injury, which may see him out for a long period.
The Norwegian midfielder sustained the injury earlier this month during Norway's Nations League win against Austria after being fouled by Christoph Baumgartner in the second half.
Upon his return to London, Odegaard underwent a comprehensive MRI scan, which revealed ligament damage in his left ankle.
“The scan showed some damage around the ligaments in the ankle, so we are going to miss him, it’s something quite significant, so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months,” said Arteta.
This injury is a major blow to their game against Ademola Lookman’s Atlanta later today, September 19, and also their Premier League title ambitions as the Gunners look to maintain their fairly strong start to the league campaign.
Odegaard's absence was keenly felt on Sunday, September 15, but Arsenal still managed to grind out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.
Arteta praised Odegaard’s importance to the squad, saying,
“He’s our captain. He’s been one of the biggest and best players in our team. Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It’s a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face.”
Despite the setback, Arsenal received some positive news, with Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka returning to training ahead of their UEFA Champions League tie against Atalanta. Arsenal’s form in European competition has been inconsistent over the years, and Arteta stressed the need for improvement in the inter-continental competition,
“If we want to be at the level we want to be, we have to be really good on the road and at home. We have to continue to be very consistent.”
“In Europe, you don’t know the opponents that well, and then boxes become crucial. There are small moments that define the games. In Europe, you’d better be at your best.”
As Arsenal prepare for tonight’s clash against Atalanta, followed by a tough away fixture against Premier League leaders Manchester City, Arteta will need to devise a way to impress fans without their captain and midfield maestro, Martin Odegaard, who plays a major role in the Spaniard’s system.
UEFA Super Cup Preview: 3 things take centre stage as Nigeria’s Lookman locks horn with Real Madrid
Previously, TheRadar reported that Atlanta triumphed 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League Final against a strong Bayer Leverkusen side, earning their spot in the UEFA Super Cup final, with Ademola Lookman netting a hat-trick.
On the other hand, Real Madrid emerged victorious in the UEFA Champions League final with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, adding their 15th European Championship to their illustrious history.
The UEFA Super Cup is an annual Super Cup football match organised by UEFA and contested by the winners of the two main European club competitions: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
