Arsenal have been handed one other worrying harm concern after Mikel Arteta picked up a knock within the 1-1 draw in opposition to Brentford on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium on Thursday evening.
The lead to West London noticed the Gunners drop extra factors, trimming their lead on the prime of the Premier League desk to 4 factors. With a frightening journey to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis on the Etihad Stadium in April nonetheless to come back, the title race is delicately poised.
Accidents are actually compounding Arsenal’s issues, and Ødegaard is the most recent so as to add to Mikel Arteta’s rising listing of health points.
The 27-year-old was launched at half-time rather than an ineffective Eberechi Eze and instantly introduced larger management and creativity to Arsenal’s play. His impression was evident when the guests took the lead shortly after the hour, with Noni Madueke scoring.
Nevertheless, Brentford responded 10 minutes later by way of Keane Lewis-Potter, and regardless of late stress, Arteta’s facet have been unable to discover a decisive winner.
The Norwegian appeared to pressure his knee whereas making an attempt to dam Keane Lewis-Potter’s objective and required therapy on the pitch earlier than making his manner off. Soccer London’s Ryan Taylor has now offered an replace on the state of affairs.
Blow
In response to the journalist, Odegaard was seen ‘limping closely’ as he handed by way of the combined zone earlier than boarding the Arsenal group bus after the sport.
Arsenal’s harm issues have been a recurring theme all season, however the state of affairs is now intensifying at an important stage of the marketing campaign.
Mikel Merino is predicted to overlook ‘quite a few weeks’ following foot surgical procedure, whereas Kai Havertz is sidelined for ‘weeks’ with a muscular difficulty. Ethan Nwaneri is out on mortgage with no recall clause, and Eberechi Eze has but to rediscover the shape that made him so influential at Crystal Palace.
That leaves Ødegaard as the one pure possibility within the quantity 10 function, and if the captain is compelled right into a spell on the sidelines as properly, Arsenal’s inventive output might take a big hit.
His availability for the upcoming fixtures is now unsure. The Gunners welcome Wigan Athletic within the FA Cup fourth spherical on Sunday earlier than travelling to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday.
Arsenal followers will now hope the difficulty shouldn’t be severe as they await an official replace from Mikel Arteta in his pre-Wigan presser on Friday.
