The 25-year-old playmaker is a massive miss for the Gunners. Ahead of their EFL Cup Third Round fixture with Bolton, he delivered the match notes and gave the fans insight into the ligament damage he suffered.
Odegaard said (via Arsenal’s website): “It’s something I’m not used to. I’ve been quite fortunate, if that’s the word, or have done well to avoid injuries in the past, but this is football, and I have to get on with it. I think it was unfortunate to get the injury in the way that I did, but also it could have been worse.
“It was not a nice twist, and when it happened, I felt it could be serious. I’ve injured my ankle before, and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me, but from what happened, it could have been worse, so in that sense, I got away with it a bit.”
Odegaard assured that he was doing everything possible to be back as soon as possible to help the Gunners challenge for titles on multiple fronts. Arsenal remain in search of an elusive second major trophy under Mikel Arteta.
The north Londoners missed Odegaard during the epic clash with Manchester City over the weekend, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Odegaard is a vital cog for the Spaniard, with former Arsenal star Paul Merson hailing him as a world-class player.
He was also absent for the drab UEFA Champions League opener against Atalanta. Arteta could have used the former Real Madrid star to unlock La Dea’s defence.
Arsenal’s injury list is beginning to pile up, with goalkeeper David Raya limping out of the Etihad Stadium after the City clash. Third-choice keeper Tommy Setford picked up a knock and will miss the Bolton game.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko is also set to be sidelined for a few weeks, Arteta confirmed. Takehiro Tomiyasu is carrying an issue alongside Mikel Merino, who is out for months.
Despite the injuries and suspensions, Arsenal haven’t tasted defeat and will look to continue fighting in all competitions until they have their full squad back.
