Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has admitted he immediately knew he had suffered a “bad” ankle injury when he went down during the international break.
The Norwegian has not featured for his club since their 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion and his absence has presented a headache for manager Mikel Arteta, who has been forced to rotate his midfield to cover the missing star.
No formal timeframe has been put on Odegaard’s recovery, with the Gunners captain himself confessing he is unsure when he will be able to return to action.
“It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there, but it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can,” he told the club’s website. “I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.
“I’m at the Sobha Realty Training Centre basically every day now, working hard and doing everything I can do to get better. I have to be careful not to push it too much, but at the same time do what I can to make sure I come back as strongly and quickly as possible.
“I’m trying to support the team in a different way now, if I can’t be on the pitch. That’s my situation, and I have to make the best out of it.
“It’s something I’m not used to. I’ve been quite fortunate, if that’s the word, or have done well to avoid injuries in the past, but this is football and I have to get on with it. It was not a nice twist, and when it happened I felt it could be serious. I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me, but from what happened it could have been worse, so in that sense I got away with it a bit.
“Like any player, the first thing I asked the medical team was how long I would be out for, but it’s a bit tricky to say at the moment. In the early stages, it’s crucial to get a proper rest and to make sure everything heals well. After that it’s about getting stronger and building it up again.”
Arsenal secured a 5-1 win over League One side Bolton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday – welcoming a new wave of youngsters as 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri bagged a brace at the Emirates.
They return to action on Saturday, hosting Leicester City in the Premier League. Odegaard will definitely miss out and Arteta is also sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper David Raya, who missed the Bolton game with a muscle injury.