Mikel Arteta confirms double Arsenal injury blow - “A matter of weeks”

Captain Martin Odegaard is not expected to feature for Arsenal again before the next international break with Mikel Arteta also confirming Oleksandr Zinchenko is set for a lengthy spell out

Mikel Arteta has said Arsenal expect Martin Odegaard to be out “for a number of weeks” with the ankle injury he sustained on international duty early this month.

The Gunners boss confirmed his captain’s issue was “significant” last week but this morning put a timeframe on his absence.

And Arteta added that Oleksandr Zinchenko’s calf injury will keep him out for a sustained spell too.

An exact return date for Odegaard has not been decided but Arteta said: “I think it will be a matter of weeks. How long exactly, I cannot tell you.” And asked if there is any chance for the creative midfielder to return ahead of next month’s international break, the Arsenal boss added: “We might get a surprise but I think it’s unlikely.”

Zinchenko has missed Arsenal’s past three games and Arteta: “I think he will still be out for a few weeks.”

Menwhile, Arteta launched a solid defence of his team’s tactical approach to Sunday’s draw at Manchester City - even if he would not be drawn on the reaction of several City stars’ complaints over their supposed use of “the dark arts” at the Etihad.

Arsenal were hammered 5-0 by City in August 2021 after Granit Xhaka was sent off late in the first half and they were also defeated late on in January 2022 when Gabriel was shown a second yellow card.

And, speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup game against Bolton, Arteta said his team had learnt how to manage games better since - but did his best not to be drawn on the criticisms of his streetwise side.

“Well, we had to play the game that we had to play,” he said. “The first 10, 15 minutes, we couldn’t with 11 vs 11. Then we got much better. Then we were thrown in a very different context and did what every team does.

“They played 30 seconds with 10 men. Look what they did for 30 seconds. It’s normal what they did. We had to do it in a different way.

“We learnt from the past. Unfortunately we’ve been in the same situation a few times. We were in that same situation with Granit after 38 minutes and we lost 5-0. We’d better learn. If not I would be thick, very thick.”

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