Martin Odegaard picked up an injury during Arsenal’s 5-0 win against Leeds United. The Arsenal captain went down on the deck with a shoulder issue during the 27th minute of the game. However, he continued playing after a quick check by the medical team. However, he was subbed off in the 38th minute as it seemed like he had not recovered from the issue. This could be a cause for concern for the Gunner’s supporters, considering we’re only just entering the new season. Their captain missing games due to injury at such a stage, would be a shame.
Minor injury for Odegaard
The 26-year-old’s initial scans taken on Sunday reported positive news. The reports clarify that the severity of the injury is not as bad as initially feared by the club. The actual issue is not yet confirmed. It could span from a minor shoulder sprain to a more complex joint issue. A sprain typically sees the player returning to action within a week, whereas joint or ligament damage keeps him out for a longer period.
Available for Anfield?
The Gunners will head to Anfield to face the Champions of England next Sunday. While Odegaard would love to recover in time, his availability for the game is not guaranteed, yet.
The club were optimistic after the initial scans, but they are refraining from commenting on the Norwegian’s recovery until further assessments are done. The club will reportedly assess the player further this week, after which they’ll have a clearer timeline of how long they’ll be out for, as per Sami Mokbel.
Odegaard could realistically make the match squad if his injury is just a bruising or a grade 1 sprain. These types of injuries, if not too severe, can be recovered from within a week. However, a more severe injury, such as a partial ligament tear, would keep the player out for a longer duration, typically a few weeks. In case of a shoulder dislocation or a full tear, the recovery time is even longer.
There is some hope, though. The way the Norwegian was carrying his arm after the scans tells us that the injury is not too serious. The captain may make it into the squad list if his injury turns out to be just a minor sprain or bruise.
Odegaard’s injury record
The Norwegian has had a solid fitness record at Arsenal. His only major injury was a sprained ankle in September 2024, which kept him out for 57 days. He missed 14 matches during that period. Otherwise, the player suffered just two other injuries since the 20/21 season. The first came during the 23/24 season, when he was out for 20 days with a Hip injury. The second was an Illness that made him miss 1 match in January 2025.
Can a Captain-less Arsenal survive Anfield?
Facing Liverpool at Anfield is one of the most dreaded tasks in football, and Arsenal will be facing a Liverpool side that heavily invested in strengthened its title-winning squad. Facing this side without Martin Odegaard could prove to be a mighty challenge for the Gunners. To make things worse, Arsenal’s star winger, Bukayo Saka, is unlikely to feature against the Reds. The Gunners will still be hopeful, though. They started the season well, while Liverpool have been very shaky. They will also be strengthened by the signing of Eberechi Eze. Eze signed for the North London club right before their game against Leeds and will be available for selection against Liverpool. The club can also depend on the young Ethan Nwaneri and potentially Max Dowman to cover for the injured captain. While the captain’s absence may harm the Gunners’ chances of winning, it would not be the end of the world for them.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
