Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains uncertain about the exact recovery timeline for captain Martin Odegaard, who sustained significant ankle ligament damage while playing for Norway earlier this month. Scans confirmed the severity of the injury, ruling Odegaard out of Sunday’s crucial English Premier League clash with Manchester City.
Arteta expressed his concern during a press conference on Friday, stating, “We need to monitor his progress over the next week or so, particularly how his ankle responds. The medical staff will provide me with an update on the timeframe and the duration of his absence.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City could be without their star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne for the Etihad Stadium encounter. De Bruyne appeared to suffer a strain before halftime of Wednesday’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.
City manager Pep Guardiola did not rule out the Belgian’s availability, saying, “He feels a little better.” De Bruyne’s fitness will be assessed during Saturday’s training session.
The absence of both Odegaard and De Bruyne would be a significant blow to their respective teams. Odegaard has been a key figure in Arsenal’s impressive start to the season, while De Bruyne is a vital cog in City’s title defense.
Arteta acknowledged the importance of Odegaard’s leadership and creativity, saying, “He’s our captain, and he’s a very important player for us. We’ll have to find a way to cope without him.”
Guardiola, on the other hand, expressed confidence in his squad’s depth, saying, “We have other players who can step up and perform. We’ll see how Kevin is, but we have a strong team.”
The outcome of Sunday’s match could have a major impact on the Premier League title race. Arsenal currently lead the standings, while City are just three points behind. A victory for either side would be a significant boost to their title aspirations.
