There was an article the other day on justArsenal saying that we were worried that we were getting close to an injury crisis, and now I am even more worried! Martin Odegaard’s injury during Norway’s UEFA Nations League match against Austria has sent shockwaves through the Arsenal camp, leaving fans anxious about the captain’s availability for crucial upcoming fixtures.
The incident occurred in the 67th minute when Odegaard was caught by a challenge from Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner. The Arsenal midfielder’s ankle appeared to twist awkwardly, causing immediate distress. Visibly in pain, Odegaard required assistance from two physios to leave the pitch, heading straight down the tunnel for further treatment.
Norway’s head coach, Stale Solbakken, provided a concerning update after the match, stating that the injury “looked bad in the dressing room as well.” This statement has heightened worries about the severity of the issue, but then the Norway Team doctor Ola Sand described it as a “small ankle sprain” but emphasized the need for further examination which makes it sound not quite so serious (fingers crossed).
The timing couldn’t be worse for Arsenal, with a crucial North London derby against Tottenham looming this weekend. The Gunners are already without suspended midfielder Declan Rice and injured summer signing Riccardo Calafiori, so Odegaard’s potential absence would be a significant blow to Mikel Arteta’s midfield options.
Arsenal’s medical staff were reportedly in immediate contact with their Norwegian counterparts following the incident. An MRI scan was scheduled for the following day to assess the full extent of the injury. The results of this scan will be crucial in determining Odegaard’s availability not just for the Tottenham clash, but also for upcoming Champions League and Premier League fixtures.
The next few weeks are pivotal for Arsenal, with matches against Atalanta in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League on the horizon. Odegaard’s creativity and leadership have been inincredible in Arsenal’s recent successes, and our options for players to replace him are getting smaller every day.
Arsenal fans can only hope and pray that there will be positive news quickly and a swift recovery for our captain.
Jack Anderson
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The other absences could potentially be dealt with effectively but without Martin a very heavy loss almost appears likely.
No need for concern, Havertz can play CAM with Jorginho and Partey behind him. Jesus or Trosssard as CF.
I agree with your selections, and would add that a formation change would help also.
Neither Partey nor Jorginho have the legs to play 90 minutes as an 8 in a 4-3-3 setup.
IMHO better to switch to a 4-2-3-1 and a pivot with Partey and Jorginho so we aren’t left exposed.
Bad news with all the injuries, now everyone has to come together and find a way to contribute during this rough patch.
+ Zinchenko
Quality along with quantity!!
Some of us said this could happen.
Really missing ESR now, would love to have him as an option to fill in.
Can’t predict these injuries, one can only prepare as much as possible.
I was hoping for 2 midfielders this Summer, the 2nd to eventually replace Partey/Jorginho.
It’s all bad timing, but if we fall 8 points behind City that is a very very tough spot. Having to depend on City losing 3 matches while maintaining a perfect win record is a monumental task.
Moments like these are defining points, and we can make a good start by beating the spuds.
It certainly is the quality backup for Odegaard that we are missing.
Jesus.
Trossard. Havertz. Saka.
Rice. Partey.
Timber. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
Havertz.
Martinelli. Trossard. Saka.
Jorginho. Partey.
Timber. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
All these fans now having a panic over Arsenal’s injury’s.
If all said player’s are missing for there next game, we’re about to find out just what a pathetic transfer window Arsenal really had.
We were told some time ago by Edu, that Arsenal had identified there targets. Well while I know you don’t always get your first choice, but if your telling me that going for Neto and Sterling on the last day of the transfer window is the answer, I think Arsenal are in for a big disappointment.
That last day of the transfer window business, smacked of desperation to me.
Arsenal’s dismal showing in the transfer window is going to come back and bite them hard.
And sadly it could start to the team that you wouldn’t want it to.
But never mind the Arteta and Edu lovers. I’m sure these two genius’s know what there doing, (NOT).
Funny how a decent window was acknowledged by most, but two of the best players we bought in are now injured along with Ødegaard, and Rice banned, so now it’s a crap window is it? sheesh, SMFH!
Not sure I agree mate that most acknowledged it as decent ?
👍Come on GB, we all know that hindsight is 20/20 and there’s no news like bad news that you can use to change the narrative to your liking.
Ok lets sack them so you can feel better. Why are arsenal fans this pathetic. Do you even know if we have money to spend? Rodri and Haaland don’t have a direct backups. You can’t have a standout ready made replacement for each position. Every good team improvise when they have injuries. Get over it all your moaning fans. Injury is part of football ball. Stop blaming Arteta and Edu everytime. It’s just too plastic and childish.
@Tim Real talk…. Some fans will even blame Arteta for the cost of raise in season ticket….anything just to make us feel as if he’s the worst manager that ever manage in this league
I completely agree.
These things can’t be predicted. We just need to find a way to get through it, and will be a massive test for Arteta.
Also, injury may hit City as well at some point in the season. What would happen if Haaland and Rodri got injured at the same time? These things happen.
I am positive we will find a short term solution, COYG.
According to the Norwegian coach and their doctor, Odigard is going to miss some weeks in the treatment room. The injury was a nasty one said the coach. This is not arsenal’s season to challenge for trophies.
Never is
Havertz is the logical replacement for Odegaard who will however be badly missed.It seems the fates are conspiring against us particularly when we are faced with a run of three really tough matches.I echo the sentiments expressed by Ken and others who were concerned at the dilution in the depth of our squad.
We may be reminded the hard way that you can never have enough quality depth.
I would go with Timber as left back with our normal defence then Jorginho and Galafiori in front with Partey ahead of them with Sterling and Saka on the wing and Havertz up front. Bring on Trossard and Martinelli to come on in the second half, Spurs play a dangerous high line and maybe we can exploit it, we did last season until Raya had a brain fart and almost cost us three points. I don’t see the same mistake happening. I would have been more worried with Nelson and ESR playing instead. I do believe we have enough to beat Spurs, roll on Sunday
Staring to feel that way even if we had Dan’s required striker (he’d likely be injured too, lol). On the other hand, you never know until the points are dropped and the dust settles.
This is exactly why people say we wasted our chances in the last two seasons. The winter reinforcements did not come, Havettz was experimented as 8. Sometimes you have to seize the opportunity as things may go against you at any moment. I wish us good luck, we will beat the spurs.
Yeah
Football doesn’t stand still and wait
Why the panic as if it’s the end of the world… Non of this injury is anyone’s fault …. injury do happen either we like it all not … If some key players get injured in ManCity team today .. they will be in exact same shoe …that is to tell you no matter how many players you’ve got …injury can make your team weak at anytime…. Injury brought out the best in Liverpool tactics last season… Let’s see what Arteta is capable of with the rest of the team…. After all injury at the beginning of the season is far better than towards the end of a season.
Junking,
You say it’s better to get injury’s at the start of the season rather than at the end, not if the injury’s picked up early in the season leads to Arsenal losing three or four games.
Remember that it seems to win this league these days, you need to be almost perfect to beat City to the title.
Like it or not, Arteta has made the squad weaker both in size and quality, don’t believe me. Well wait until the end of the season, and you’ll find out.
Arsenal had there chance in the last two seasons, and when it came down to it they choked.
Bro just jump to another club. Stop moaning. I bet you’re world class coach
Arsenal did not choke or bottle it last season, if anything our results got better as the season went on, Arsenal were a winning machine
it is just Man C are a better winning machine
Arsenal1886,
Maybe I was a bit harsh to have said that they choked, but when it came down to it they weren’t up to the task when it mattered.
Remember it’s not how you start but how you finish. That’s what City so good, they produce when it really matters.
It’ not over yet,just like water,odegard is an indispensable player for arsenal,no doubt,but other players will rose and fill the void,they know the challenges ahead of them,Arsenal fans stop moaning
I wish all the injured boys a speedy and full recovery
We can still beat Spurs. It will be very tough but we can do it
👍 Stephanie. Perhaps like the proverb it is always darkest before the dawn. Considering we have only dropped 2 points I’m not sure it really applies yet but it would be great if we could still dig deep and put spurs in their proper place.
There are far too many national team matches, and top players hardly seem to get needed rest during a long season.
I wish clubs would limit their minutes while on national team duty, or have some gentleman’s agreement regarding their playing time.
Otherwise, the club that pays their salaries are the ones that suffer their loss the most during their season.
Missing Odegaard against spuds is a travesty. and have not heard if Calafiori will be fit to play. Meaningless matches at this point with their national teams, yet here we are already a crucial run in our season, missing players.
Yes, this is a real bugbear. With the CL having been extended and a limited number of players in a squad then rotation in itself is difficult enough even with everyone fit
None of the injuries are great timing but c’est la vie as most clubs will suffer these setbacks and it is up to Arteta to do his best to salvage something from the upcoming games
I hope Odegaard and all our crocked players a speedy return to health
I think it’s time the players took a stand regarding the amount of matches they are required to play per season. It’s in their best interests and also that of the fans because some of the quality of the football is second rate. The low scoring is often not a result of an equal playing field but teams parking the bus. A lot of the football actually is starting to look like the Simpson’s parody where the ball is just passed around from side to side and nobody wants to take risks and give possession away. Also too many inverted players, ha ha. Regarding the current squad, I have to agree that a certain home grown midfielder was allowed to leave without being given enough opportunities, I will say that Harvetz won’t cut it in midfield, and also that our summer recruiting was poor. That may not necessarily have been Edu and Arteta’s fault because there simply wasn’t that much quality available and what there was came at a premium price which we couldn’t afford this time round. Fingers crossed for a roller coaster ride during next three weeks.
We’ve had two incredible tilts at winning the EPL and came close on both occasions against arguably the best Premier League club ever. My only concern is do we have both the stamina and resolve in our third venture? If we do lose Odergaard for a few weeks it will hurt us because, quite frankly, we do not have a natural replacement. This is where Man City have the advantage, a top quality bench which allows them to rest players with little or no effect on the result.
Agree Andrew Elder. I believe we are doing the right things for the most part to try and make up ground on the bench quality but it’s a slow process for a club playing by the rules.
Andrew Elder, like Joe. S I agree with what you say concerning the depth in City’s squad.
And this is where Arteta and Edu need to be made accountable.
They knew at the beginning if the season that they didn’t have a like for like replacement if Odegaard got injured. And the one player who could have adequately covered for him, (A certain Smith Row).
But unfortunately all I’m reading about is play Havertz there. Well I’m telling you now, if he plays there against Tottenham on Sunday, I fear for Arsenal.
There’s only one place that Havertz is okay to play in, and that’s the no:9 position, and I’m not completely convinced by him there either.
On the money Andrew. Clear and to the point.