Arsenal fans have more to fear for Martin Odegaard

The title charge of Arsenal faces a potential disaster as star midfielder and captain, Martin Odegaard, has suffered a serious injury while on international duty with Norway.

The incident occurred during Norway’s 2-1 UEFA Nations League win over Austria, with Odegaard leading his side to victory before picking up the knock. With back-to-back fixtures against fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur and reigning champions Manchester City looming large, the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Martin Odegaard, who has been pivotal to Arsenal’s excellent form this season, was seen using crutches and unable to put weight on his left foot as he boarded a private jet at Oslo airport. According to reports from Norwegian outlet NG, the 24-year-old needed assistance from airport staff to get onto the plane, further escalating concerns about the severity of the injury.

Read More:

Why I was scared to celebrate — Martin Odegaard

“Arsenal, My Present and My Future” — Martin Odegaard

Norway’s national team doctor, Ola Sand, confirmed that Martin Odegaard would undergo an MRI scan upon his return to London to assess the full extent of the damage.

However, the outlook appears bleak, with Norway’s head coach Stale Solbakken admitting after the match,

“It looked bad in the dressing room too. He didn’t have the nerve to continue.” Solbakken also hinted at the severity of the injury in a post-match interview, noting that he wasn’t expecting any praise from Mikel Arteta for Odegaard’s involvement. “It is not certain that Arteta will call me tonight and praise me.”

This development has left Arsenal fans anxious, as Martin Odegaard has been a key figure in Arteta’s midfield. His creativity, leadership, and eye for goal have been instrumental in the Gunners’ strong start to the Premier League season. Should the injury rule him out of the crucial upcoming matches, it could prove to be a massive blow to their hopes of challenging for the Premier League title.

The timing of Odegaard’s injury is particularly concerning as it follows closely after Arsenal’s new midfield recruit, Mikel Merino, suffered his own setback in training just days after joining the club.

The Spaniard, signed from Real Sociedad for a reported £31.6 million, sustained a small fracture to his shoulder when Brazilian defender Gabriel accidentally collided with him during a training session. Arteta confirmed that Merino is expected to be out for several weeks, leaving Arsenal’s midfield options thin ahead of some of the season’s most defining games.

Arteta’s men now face a daunting task without their captain, with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City both eyeing opportunities to capitalize on Arsenal’s mounting injury crisis. Odegaard’s absence could lead to a tactical reshuffle, with the responsibility likely to fall on younger and less experienced players such as Emile Smith Rowe or Fabio Vieira to step up in the high-pressure matches.

This double injury blow could not have come at a worse time for Arsenal, who are navigating a crucial stretch of fixtures that could define their season.

Odegaard’s impact on the pitch cannot be overstated—he is the glue that holds Arteta’s intricate system together, dictating the pace of play and linking midfield with attack. His absence would leave a creative void that could be difficult to fill, especially with Merino also out of action.

Arsenal fans, who have watched their team’s resurgence under Arteta, will now be holding their breath as the club awaits the results of Odegaard’s scan. With growing concerns over the Gunners’ ability to maintain their title push without key players, these next few weeks could make or break their campaign.