Arteta faces midfield problem with Odegaard ruled out for key fixtures
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is not expected to feature again until after the November international break as he continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained earlier this month.
The midfielder suffered a medial collateral ligament issue during Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over West Ham United on 4 October, forcing him off before half-time.
The club confirmed the diagnosis shortly after but declined to specify a return date, with initial hopes of a quicker recovery now fading.
Fresh reports indicate that Odegaard’s recovery is progressing slower than anticipated, ruling him out for the rest of October and much of November.
He is set to miss Premier League matches against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland, as well as Champions League fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague.
His absence extends to the League Cup tie with Brighton, leaving Arsenal without their skipper for a demanding run of fixtures that will test Mikel Arteta’s depth in midfield and creativity in attack.
Odegaard’s fitness has been a concern throughout the campaign, having already been withdrawn early in three consecutive league games prior to his latest setback.
The Norwegian has struggled to find rhythm in a season disrupted by niggling injuries that have limited his influence in Arsenal’s build-up play.
Arteta will be hopeful of welcoming him back after the international break when Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur in a north London derby on 23 November, followed by crucial encounters with Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the space of a week.
However, the 26-year-old’s availability for that period remains uncertain and will depend on how well his knee responds to rehabilitation.
Odegaard’s absence comes at a time when Arsenal are balancing domestic and European ambitions, with the midfielder’s leadership and precision passing having been central to their attacking fluency.
His injury places added responsibility on the likes of Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino to step up creatively in his stead.
Meanwhile, Odegaard’s national team, Norway, boosted their World Cup qualification hopes with a 5-0 win over Israel at the weekend.
Should they qualify, it would mark their first appearance at a major international tournament since Euro 2000 — a stage the Arsenal captain will be eager to lead them onto once fully fit.
Arsenal will continue to monitor his progress closely, with a cautious approach preferred to avoid aggravating the injury ahead of the season’s busiest stretch.
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