Martin Odegaard will miss the next 11 games

soccernews

14 hours ago

He has become the driving force for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, but the Gunners are now going to have to do with captain, Martin Odegaard, for at least 11 games.

The Norwegian picked up an injury during the Nations League game against Austria, and it immediately brings to mind whether having international breaks so close to the start of a season are actually a worthwhile venture at all.

Martin Odegaard will miss 11 games for Arsenal

Players are just building their fitness back up, and as such can be susceptible to injuries, perhaps because timing is slightly out and players are that split second late into a tackle.

Whatever the issue, to lose such vital exponents for the best part of two months at an important part of the season clearly is the biggest of blows for Arteta and the squad to have to deal with.

Martin Odegaard is set to miss 11 games for Arsenal (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)

AS have published details of the 11 games that Odegaard will miss, and it makes for grim reading if you’re an Arsenal supporter:

19 Sept – Atalanta (A) – Champions League
22 Sept – Man City (A) – Premier League
28 Sept – Leicester City (H) – Premier League
1 Oct – Paris Saint-Germain (A) – Champions League
5 Oct – Southampton (H) – Premier League
19 Oct – Bournemouth (A) – Premier League
22 Oct – Shakhtar Donetsk (H) – Champions League
27 Oct – Liverpool (H) – Premier League
2 Nov – Newcastle United (A) – Premier League
6 Nov – Inter Milan (A) – Champions League
10 Nov – Chelsea (A) – Premier League

If one considers the Premier League to be Arteta’s priority, the games against Man City, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea loom largest, with respect to the other English top-flight opponents.

Missing half of the league stage in the newly revamped Champions League could also have dire consequences for the North Londoners.