In a significant setback for Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions, captain Martin Odegaard has been ruled out of this weekend's crucial match against Brentford due to a shoulder injury.
The Norwegian playmaker, a pivotal figure in Mikel Arteta's system, sustained the knock during the Gunners' commanding 6-0 victory over Lens in the Champions League. While he managed to complete the full match in France, subsequent assessments have revealed the issue to be more serious than initially hoped.
Arteta's Selection Headache
Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the disappointing news during his pre-match press conference, stating, "He’s been carrying a little thing and he felt it again. He will not be available." This absence throws a spanner in the works for Arteta, who must now find a creative solution to fill the void left by his talismanic skipper.
This development places Odegaard's immediate participation for the Norwegian national team in jeopardy. With vital Euro 2024 qualifiers on the horizon, his national team management will be anxiously monitoring his recovery.
Who Steps Up for the Gunners?
In Odegaard's absence, the creative burden is likely to fall on the likes of Fabio Vieira or Emile Smith Rowe. This injury provides a potential opportunity for another player to stake their claim in a advanced midfield role as Arsenal look to maintain their strong league position.
The team travels to the Gtech Community Stadium aiming to secure a vital three points, but they will have to do so without their influential leader on the pitch.
