Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says captain Martin Odegaard will be out for “a while” after suffering a “serious” ankle injury.
Odegaard left the pitch in tears during the second half Norway’s win over Austria in the Nations League earlier this month.
The midfielder subseqeuently missed the Gunners’ North London derby win over Tottenham on Sunday and now Arteta says Odegaard is set for further time on the sidelines.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League opener at Atalanta, Arteta said: “After recent scans the scans showed that he’s got some damage especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle.
“It’s something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while.”
The news comes during a huge week for Arsenal, with a trip to title rivals Manchester City coming on Sunday after Thursday’s Champions League opener in Italy.
Odegaard, 25, has been pivotal to Arsenal since joining in 2021, racking up 156 appearances and scoring 35 goals.
He missed just four Premier League games over the previous two Premier League seasons as his side narrowly missed out on the title on both occasions, while he also started the first three games of the season in 2024-25.
When asked about how last season’s Premier League runners up will set up without their skipper, Arteta responded: “He’s our captain. 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.”
