Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is set to be sidelined for a “few weeks” with a knee injury.
Before the international break, Odegaard suffered an injury to his medial collateral ligament in the 2-0 victory against West Ham. As a result, he pulled out of Norway’s international duty.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said on Friday: “He will be weeks, no definite date for his return, but he’s evolving well. It’s very unlucky what’s happening with him and his injuries this season, but I think he will be back in a few weeks.
“It could be [an absence until after the international break] but we will have to see how he is progressing, how his knee is feeling, how he manages the next steps in his rehab, it’s too early to get an answer.”
It is the third injury blow Odegaard has suffered this season following two issues with his shoulder which forced him off early against Leeds in August before later missing three matches the next month.
Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino can fill Odegaard’s place and when asked if Arsenal’s improved squad depth this season can soften the midfielder’s absence, Arteta said: “That doesn’t mean Martin isn’t a capital player for us. He’s very important and we haven’t had him since the start of the season, like other players.
“But we are coping because we have players in the squad, with their qualities they are performing really well. But we need him back as he makes us a better team.”
