Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the team has had to adapt its tactics in the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Odegaard has missed Arsenal’s last six games, forcing Arteta to change his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.
In Odegaard’s absence, Leandro Trossard has taken his place in the starting lineup, while Kai Havertz has played alongside him in a two-man strike partnership. This tweak has allowed Arsenal to maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League, with the Gunners sitting in third place just one point behind leaders Liverpool.
“We had to be different,” said Arteta. “The impact Martin has in everything that we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player. We’ve tried to do it in a different way, adapting a few things, using players’ qualities, players that can play in different positions and with the right chemistry around them.”
Arteta praised the team’s ability to adapt, but admitted that they still miss Odegaard’s presence. “We found a way, but we still miss him,” he said. “We don’t have Martin, there are all the things that we cannot do. But as well we have a big threat in other areas and we have to make the most of them.”
Odegaard is working hard to return to action, but Arteta could not provide a specific timeline for his comeback. “He’s working so hard,” said Arteta. “He’s doing everything he can to get back as quickly as possible, but we don’t want to rush him. We want to make sure he’s fully fit and ready to go when he comes back.”
