Fans are saying Arsenal’s title race is over
One of Norway’s physios has issued a worrying update on Martin Odegaard’s injury that he picked up while on international duty.
On Monday evening (9 Sep), the Arsenal captain suffered an injury to his ankle as Norway beat Austria in the Nations League.
Manchester City’s goal machine Erling Haaland was on target to give his country a late 2-1 win over Ralf Rangnick’s Austria side.
However, with the North London derby on the horizon, Arsenal fans will be worrying about the extent of Odegaard’s injury.
Well, one of Norway’s national team’s physios has issued an update that makes for disappointing reading for Arsenal fans.
Physio, Ola Sand, said that there is probably no fracture to the Arsenal captain’s left ankle, but added that any absence of less than three weeks would be a bonus.
After limping off against Austria the 25-year-old returned to London, where he underwent an MRI scan.
Sand told Norwegian newspaper VG: “Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks. Anything other than that is just a bonus and then it can take longer.
“What we have so far obtained from the MRI examination in London is that there is probably no fracture in the ankle.
“Arsenal are almost certain there is no breach, but this may still take some time. In the event of a fracture, we are talking about being out of action for six weeks plus.”
If Odegaard’s does indeed require three weeks of recovery then the playmaker will miss five games for the Gunners, including next Thursday’s Champions League game away to Atalanta and a huge clash with Manchester City on 22 September.
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, is expected to provide an update on Friday ahead of Sunday’s huge North London derby with Tottenham.
Declan Rice will also be unavailable against Spurs, following on from his red card against Brighton.
Now fans are saying that the title race might already be over for Arsenal without some of their key players.
One person said on X (Formerly Twitter): “Arsenal’s season is officially toast. Odegaard was the one player they couldn’t afford to lose. I hate this sport.”
Meanwhile another person wrote: “Arsenal do not have the depth or Man City or Real Madrid, there are no trustworthy replacements for Odegaard for now, is injury could finish everything in the Premier League.”
