Arsenal fans who reserved a glimmer of hope that Martin Odegaard's injury wasn't quite as bad as initially feared will want to look away.
The Norwegian went down with an ankle injury while on September international duty, and while fears of a long-term absence were prevalent, more optimistic supporters waited for official news before succumbing to their dispair.
With scans now completed, that news has sadly arrived, as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed that Odegaard has suffered a "significant" injury that will see him out "for a while."
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"After recent scans the scans showed that he’s got some damage especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday ahead of Arsenal's Champions League match against Atalanta. "It’s something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while."
Norway's team doctor Ola Sand told the media that Odegaard had avoided a fracture and would miss at least three weeks, but "it can take longer" if more significant damage is confirmed. By the sounds of it, the Arsenal star could fall into that category.
Odegaard has been one of the most influential players to Arsenal's success in recent years, rescued from limbo at Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 and rising to prominence as one of the world's most effective possessional chance creators. In the three-plus seasons since arriving at The Emirates, Odegaard has scored 35 goals and assisted 25 more in 156 matches for Arsenal across all competitions, but his contributions are so much more than just those numbers.
“He’s our captain," Arteta lamented. "He’s been one of the biggest and best players in our team. Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It’s a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face.”
Odegaard's statistical radar leaps off the page, ranking amongst the top seven percent amongst European midfielders in not just goals and assists but also shot-creating actions (99th percentile), non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists (97th), shots (93rd), progressive passes (98th), touches (99th), and progressive passes received (94th), while also ranking amongst the top 15 percent in on-ball categories such as successful take-ons and progressive carries. Quite simply, Odegaard is critical to how Arsenal play in the attacking third.
With Emile Smith Rowe sold to Fulham in the summer, there are no exact fits for Odegaard's replacement in his absence. Arsenal's other midfielders are all of the more box-to-box type, while other creative options such as Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus are all unfamiliar with a central No. 10 role. Most likely, it will be down to Kai Havertz to shift spots and fill Odegaard's shoes, with other pieces moved around to take over for Havertz in front of goal.
