Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard will be sidelined for an extended period due to an ankle injury he sustained while on international duty with Norway, according to manager Mikel Arteta.
Ødegaard twisted his ankle during Norway’s Nations League match against Austria earlier this month. The national team doctor had initially estimated a minimum absence of three weeks.
Arteta confirmed that scans revealed significant damage, particularly to one of the ligaments in Ødegaard’s ankle. “The scans showed some damage, so we will miss him for a while,” Arteta told reporters ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League match against Atalanta on Thursday. “I can’t provide a specific timeframe, as I’m not a doctor, but it’s a significant injury. Hopefully, he won’t be out for months, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Arsenal, who finished as Premier League runners-up last season, will face reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday. The Gunners secured a 1-0 win over local rivals Tottenham last weekend and are currently second in the Premier League table, just two points behind Man City.