Premier League

Arsenal Star Martin Odegaard Ruled Out For At Least 3 Weeks

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Arsenal Star Martin Odegaard Ruled Out For At Least 3 Weeks

Arsenal have been dealt a major blow as Martin Odegaard is set to face at least three weeks on the sidelines, according to Norway’s national team doctor.

The Gunners skipper limped off midway through the second half during Norway’s 2-1 victory over Austria on Monday night after being on the receiving end of a poor challenge by Christoph Baumgartner.

The Norwegian manager admitted after the game that Odegaard had picked up a ‘bad’ ankle injury while national team doctor Ola Sand confirmed that the attacking midfielder would be given an MRI scan to reveal the full extend of the damage.

Odegaard was photographed on crutches as he boarded a private jet on Tuesday as he flew back to the UK to be further assessed by Arsenal’s medical team.

The Norway team doctor has now provided a fresh update after confirming that Odegaard is expected to be ruled out for a ‘minimum’ of three weeks. Sand warned that the injury could take even longer to heal and admitted that the Arsenal star is already a doubt for the international fixtures in October.

The doctor also revealed that Odegaard was ‘very worried’ about the injury and was in ‘extreme pain’, but they are confident that there is no fracture in the ankle or foot.

Minimum 3 weeks
Norwegian journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft cited Sand as saying:

“Injuries like this takes minimum 3 weeks. Everything else is bonus. And it can take longer time. Both Ståle (the national coach) and I know that next national games (10th of October) he will be very doubtful.

They are investigating the MR now. There is probably no fracture in his foot. Ankle injuries are very painful straight away. Martin had extreme pain. He was very worried”

This news will come as a major blow to Arsenal as they head in to a huge run of fixtures. If Odegaard is out for three weeks, he’ll miss Sunday’s NLD against Tottenham, the trip to Atalanta in the Champions League, next weekend’s huge title clash with Man City at the Etihad Stadium, the League Cup clash with Bolton and the visit of Leicester City to the Emirates at the end of the month.

Should the injury take longer to heal, Odegaard will also sit out the Champions League showdown with PSG and the Premier League clash with Southampton before the October international break starts.

This is the last thing Mikel Arteta needed ahead of such an important run of games. The Gunners boss is already going to be without new signing Mikel Merino for the next 6-8 weeks after he fractured his shoulder in his first training session. Riccardo Calafiori also returned home early from international duty after picking up a knock playing for Italy.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is on the sidelines while Gabriel Jesus has missed the last two games with a groin injury, so Arsenal already have a number of injury problems to deal with so early in the season.

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Ambrose Ijeh

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Related Topics:Arsenal Arsenal fc Odegaard

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Ola Aina Injury Update Ahead Of Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Clash

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Premier League

Ola Aina Injury Update Ahead Of Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Clash

Published

1 day ago

November 18, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Ola Aina Injury Update Ahead Of Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Clash

Nottingham Forest hope to have Ola Aina available for their trip Arsenal after returning from international duty with Nigeria ahead of schedule last week.

Aina has been in superb form this season, almost ever-present in Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting XI with Forest riding high in fifth place.

The right-back completed the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest prior to the international break and played 83 minutes for Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin last Thursday.

The former Chelsea youngster was replaced late on, subsequently receiving treatment for an issue suffered in the match.

That 1-1 draw against Benin ensured Nigeria qualified for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare.

With Forest in direct communication with the Nigerian FA, an agreement was met to allow Aina to miss Monday’s game against Rwanda, returning to the UK late last week for treatment back at Forest.

‘Relationship is something that is key,’ Nigeria’s interim coach Austin Eguavoen said in an interview with All Nigeria Soccer.

‘I agreed, stating that if we managed to get a positive result in Côte d’Ivoire, we’d maintain our good rapport. We have alternative players available, so in light of this, it was important to sustain the relationship.’

An official statement from the Nigeria Football Federation added: ‘English Premier League side Nottingham Forest fervently requested that wing-back Olaoluwa Aina be permitted to return to the UK for their pivotal match, having already secured qualification for AFCON.’

Aina will be assessed this week with reports in Nigeria claiming the reason for his substitution last week may have been fatigue.

Forest head to north London to take on Arsenal at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

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Ambrose Ijeh

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Premier League

Arsenal Hit With Fresh Injury Headache

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Arsenal have been handed a fresh injury concern as Leandro Trossard was forced off during Belgium’s loss against Israel in the Nations League.

Mikel Arteta is already facing an injury headache with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice both withdrawing from England’s most recent Nations League squad.

The Gunner’s injury headache worsened as Torssard was substituted just 37 minutes into the game.

That marks another tough international break for the north London side who lost Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard during the September international break.

Fast forward to the October international break where they saw injuries to wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

And now in November the gunners have seen Leandro Trossard hauled off and Ben White set to miss time, though the latter was not selected by England.

Speaking after Belgium’s loss, Domenico Tedesco confirmed the Arsenal winger was taken off due to injury, ‘It was a difficult game for a number of reasons.

‘The players we brought out had never played or trained together.

‘There were a lot of injuries before the game and we also lost Trossard and [Zeno] Debast during the game. It wasn’t a good game, but the conditions were very difficult.’

Trossard now looks set to join an injury list that includes Riccardo Calafiori, who has not featured since Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in October.

As for White, the England full-back is set to miss up to eight weeks after he underwent surgery to help deal with a long-term knee issue.

Mikel Arteta is also without long-term absentee Takehiro Tomiyasu who has featured just once in the league so far this season.

It is unclear whether Declan Rice will return to the Arsenal line-up following the international break, the midfielder taking painkillers to deal with a broken toe so he could face Chelsea.

And if Arsenal are to be without Saka, then the injury to Trossard would be even more significant, leaving the gunners with just Raheem Sterling and Martinelli as their senior wingers.

It has been a mixed start to the season for the Gunners who have been hampered by injuries and red cards alike.

Arteta’s side have received three red cards so far with Rice and Trossard sent off in draws against Brighton and Manchester City respectively.

William Saliba was given his marching orders against Bournemouth as the Gunners suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Vitality stadium.

That has left them fourth in the league, nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool who have lost just once this season under new boss Arne Slot.

And with injury issues seemingly deepending, Mikel Arteta will need to get his side moving in the right direction sooner rather than later if they are to sustain a title challenge.

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Ambrose Ijeh

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Premier League

Man City’s Next Six Fixtures Compared To Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea As Title Battle Intensifies

Published

2 days ago

November 17, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

The Premier League returns next weekend and Manchester City will be hoping to end their losing run and reignite their Premier League title hopes.

The Blues have lost their last four games in all competitions, the first time Pep Guardiola has lost four on the bounce as a manager. It means they have slipped five points adrift of leaders Liverpool ahead of the return of the top flight.

City will not be panicking, having form for finishing season’s strongly, and will hope an injury crisis will soon abate to allow them to field their first choice XI on a regular basis. Guardiola’s men return to action against Tottenham on Saturday and here’s how the next few weeks shape up for the top four in the Premier League.

Sunday, December 1: Liverpool (A)

Wednesday, December 4: Nottingham Forest (H)

Saturday, December 7: Crystal Palace (A)

Sunday, December 15: Manchester United (H)

Saturday, December 21: Aston Villa (A)

Liverpool
Sunday, November 24: Southampton (A)

Sunday, December 1: Man City (H)

Wednesday, December 4: Newcastle (A)

Saturday, December 7: Everton (A)

Saturday, December 14: Fulham (H)

Sunday, December 22: Tottenham (A)

Arsenal
Sunday, November 10: Chelsea (A)