Arsenal fans convinced over Martin Odegaard clue in Mikel Arteta press conference

Mikel Arteta has given Arsenal fans hope about Martin Odegaard, who is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury on international duty

Straw-clutching Arsenal fans reckon Martin Odegaard’s injury may not be as bad as feared after watching a Mikel Arteta press conference.

The Norwegian is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury playing for his country in the Nations League. Needless to say, losing Odegaard for a significant period would be a blow to the Gunners’ Premier League and Champions League hopes.

Arteta addressed Odegaard’s condition ahead of the Champions League opener away to Atalanta and eagle-eyed supporters reckon the Spaniard offered a chink of light amid an otherwise gloomy-sounding update. Asked about by a reporter if it would be months or weeks, a smiling Arteta replied: “Hopefully not months, but we’ll see.”

A supporter, who shared the clip on X, posted: “ALWAYS worth watching pressers when big news comes out. This was Mikel's full response about Odegaard. Kind of laughs at the idea that it will be months and pushes back. Sounds more optimistic than reported, imo.”

Another added: “My read too - fingers crossed.” A third said: “100%. He’s said ‘a while’ before and it was like 3 weeks. He very much dismissed months (which to me is 3+). Think he comes back after the next intl break.”

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A fourth observed: “He also said Odegaard was in contention for the NLD, so I'd take everything he says with a very large pinch of salt.” A fifth added: “It looks to me more like he’s genuinely hoping it isn’t months, indicating that it’s a possibility.”

Giving little away, Arteta said: “After recent scans the scans showed that he’s got some damage especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle. We’re gonna miss him.

“I don’t want to do that [give a timescale] because I’m not a doctor. But it’s something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months but let’s see.”

He urged his players to step up to the plate in their captain’s absence, starting in Bergamo tonight (Thursday). Arteta said: “We have to show that. He’s our captain. One of our biggest players, one of our most consistent players in the last two or three seasons.

“Our identity is related to his way of playing and his way of behaving. We are going to have to deal with that.

“It’s a great test for the team of how capable we are to show maybe a different face and that other players and other options can be very effective.”

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