Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has picked up an ankle injury while representing Norway on international duty, causing concern about his availability for the highly anticipated North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
This fixture is widely regarded as Arsenal’s most important match of the season thus far, and Odegaard’s potential absence would be a significant blow to the team. At present, it remains uncertain whether the midfielder will be fit to participate, and his injury has sparked worry among Arsenal fans.
Odegaard has been a pivotal player for Arsenal, especially in the past two seasons, where he has excelled as the team’s creative force in midfield. His performances have been instrumental in Arsenal’s back-to-back challenges for the Premier League title, making his potential unavailability a major concern. Arsenal supporters are understandably anxious, fearing that their key playmaker might be out for an extended period.
There has been some positive news regarding Odegaard’s condition, shared by Dr. Rajpal Brar, a physical therapy expert, via social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). According to Dr. Brar, Odegaard is currently using lofstrand crutches to avoid putting pressure on his injured ankle but is not wearing a protective boot, which could suggest the injury is not too severe.
Additionally, although Odegaard is not wearing a regular shoe, possibly due to swelling, he was seen navigating stairs without crutches, offering a small sense of optimism. However, Dr. Brar cautioned that it is too early to accurately determine the full extent of the injury, and further information is required for a more definitive assessment.
Despite this slightly hopeful update, Odegaard’s fitness remains a significant concern for Arsenal, particularly since two other key midfielders are already unavailable for the upcoming match against Tottenham. Declan Rice is suspended following a red card in a previous match against Brighton, and new signing Mikel Merino is sidelined for several weeks with a shoulder injury, having yet to make his debut.
These absences pose a substantial challenge for Arsenal, who are facing a packed schedule that includes trips to Tottenham and Manchester City. Manager Mikel Arteta will be relying on his squad depth to navigate this challenging period and will hope to have his key players, including Odegaard, back as soon as possible to maintain Arsenal’s strong start to the season.
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