2 months ago
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Arsenal's Martin Odegaard is set to be out of action until mid-November due to a knee injury he sustained during the Gunners' 2-0 triumph over West Ham.
The Arsenal captain picked up the injury at the start of the month, and while it was confirmed that he would miss the current international fixtures, no specific return date was given. BBC Sport now reports that Odegaard is not expected to return until after the November international break, adding a new twist to the Premier League title race with Liverpool now trailing Arsenal at the top of the table.
Odegaard's absence is a significant setback for the Gunners, who will now have to manage without him for at least seven games. That must be viewed as a boost for Liverpool.
According to the BBC's update, he will miss Premier League matches against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Sunderland, as well as Champions League games against Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague, and an EFL Cup tie with Brighton.
His potential return could be in the North London Derby against Tottenham on 23 November.
Odegaard has been plagued by injuries this season, having had to leave the pitch before half-time in his last three starts for Arsenal due to shoulder problems. He was also absent for the 1-1 draw with Manchester City on 21 September because of a shoulder injury.
"I just spoke to him," said Arteta on Odegaard after the West Ham game. "He's not positive about it. He's got a brace on. We'll have to wait and see what the doctors say, but we haven't been very lucky with that either.
"We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury.
"We'll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking."
On October 5, Arsenal announced that Odegaard had sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury.
"Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half in Saturday's win over West Ham United," the club announced.
"Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible."
Despite being unable to play for Norway during this international break, Odegaard has still joined up with his country to boost morale ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken said: "Martin is a big part of us, he is our captain even though he doesn't play. He's a good man off it - someone who talks football, talks about everything, and is a security factor for the group."
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