Martin Odegaard Provides Injury Update After Limping Away from Brentford Clash
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has disclosed that he must endure a tense waiting period to determine the severity of a knee injury he sustained during the recent match against Brentford. The Norwegian midfielder, who had previously missed victories over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and Sunderland, made a comeback as a second-half substitute at the Gtech Stadium.
Game Impact and Injury Details
Odegaard entered the fray at halftime, replacing the struggling Eberechi Eze, and immediately shifted momentum in Arsenal's favor. The league leaders appeared poised to secure a crucial three points until Keane Lewis-Potter's late equalizer for Brentford. The injury occurred when Odegaard attempted to block a Brentford forward, over-stretching his leg and pinching his knee. Although he managed to finish the game, he was visibly uncomfortable and seen limping through the mixed zone post-match.
In Sunday's matchday program, Odegaard clarified the situation, stating, 'I picked up a bit of an injury when they scored their goal, but hopefully it's not too bad. We'll see how it goes in the build-up to today's game and over the next few days. I tried to clear the ball as it came down, but instead kicked into the player a bit, and ended up over-stretching my leg, which pinched the knee. I was able to carry on, but on Friday morning it was very sore, so I was worried of course, but thankfully it looks like it's not too bad.'
Arsenal's Squad Challenges and Upcoming Fixtures
With Mikel Arteta's side set to face Wigan in the FA Cup this afternoon, Odegaard is almost certainly ruled out. Arsenal's midfield depth is already strained due to Mikel Merino's season-long absence, Ethan Nwaneri's loan spell, and Eze's poor form, making Odegaard's potential absence a significant blow. The team, despite a recent wobble with only two wins in their last six Premier League games, remains competitive across four competitions this season.
Odegaard emphasized the importance of the FA Cup, saying, 'Today it's a change of focus in the FA Cup, which is a big target for us. This group of players hasn't had a run in this competition, and it's definitely something we want to do. We know we can do better in this competition. In recent years, we've gone out quite early, so that's something we want to make better and it's another competition we want to go all the way in.'
The home tie against League One opposition Wigan offers Arsenal a chance to rebuild confidence and advance in a tournament where they have underperformed in recent seasons.
