Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has reportedly suffered a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury and could now remain sidelined until December.
Softfootball reports that the Norwegian midfielder has been working his way back from the ankle ligament injury he picked up during the last international break while playing for Norway.
Odegaard was later seen on crutches, and further tests confirmed that he had suffered significant ligament damage. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had already admitted that the midfielder would be unavailable for a while.
Initial reports suggested that Odegaard could miss around eight weeks of action, but a fresh update has now claimed that his recovery has not gone as smoothly as expected.
According to Arsenal insider Con Harrison, the playmaker has suffered a setback and is not expected to return until around December.
Odegaard started the season in impressive form before the injury, and his absence was seen as a major blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.
However, the Gunners have managed to cope well without their captain. They secured important results against Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, while also earning a hard-fought draw away to Manchester City despite playing with 10 men.
Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz have both stepped up in Odegaard’s absence, giving Arteta more attacking options in midfield and forward areas.
Youngster Ethan Nwaneri has also shown promise, proving that Arsenal have depth and talent within the squad.
Although Odegaard’s setback is a frustrating development, Arsenal’s recent performances should give fans confidence that the team can continue competing strongly until their captain returns.
Arteta will now hope the midfielder can recover fully and avoid any further delays in his comeback.
