Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will be sidelined for several weeks, with no confirmed timeline for his return, manager Mikel Arteta revealed ahead of the Gunners’ upcoming trip to Fulham. Odegaard suffered a medial collateral ligament injury during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham two weeks ago, forcing him off before the international break.
The injury also forced Odegaard to withdraw from Norway’s squad for the October internationals. Early reports suggested the midfielder might miss matches until after the November international break, and Arteta admitted that remains a possibility, though he hopes the recovery will be quicker. “He will be weeks, no definite date for his return, but he’s evolving well,” Arteta said.
He emphasized the challenge the 26-year-old has faced this season, noting this is Odegaard’s third injury, following two previous shoulder problems that have limited his Premier League minutes to just 204 so far.
Arsenal, meanwhile, continue their strong seasonal start by sitting top of the Premier League, holding a narrow lead over Liverpool. The team has tightened their defense considerably, allowing fewer than 10 shots in their last six games after conceding 22 attempts against Manchester United in their opener.
Arteta expressed confidence in maintaining their defensive solidity at Craven Cottage, seeking Arsenal’s first away win against Fulham since the 2022-23 season. “If we continue to do that, it’s going to give us a big chance to get what we want,” he added, highlighting the team’s commitment on both ends of the pitch.
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