Arsenal get Martin Odegaard injury update as Mikel Arteta issue raised | Football | Sport
Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League but are set to be without a key player for a significant period. Gunners captain Martin Odegaard was forced off the field with a knee injury during their win over West Ham.
Mikel Arteta’s side triumphed 2-0 against the Hammers last week at the Emirates, securing a one-point lead over title rivals Liverpool at the top of the table. However, after battling injuries throughout the season, skipper Odegaard was sent off after just 30 minutes of play. The Norwegian midfielder had to be replaced due to an apparent knee injury. A former Norwegian national team medical professional has now shed light on when Odegaard could return to the pitch. Express sport provides the latest updates from north London, including a Gunners legend questioning some of Arteta’s choices and a potential plan the club could adopt for its stadium renovation.
The doctor takes stock of Martin Odegaard
Odegaard had already been sidelined this season after injuring his shoulder in Arsenal’s win over Leeds United in August. However, after being substituted at the start of several other matches, an MCL problem finally got the better of him against West Ham.
Due to this setback, he is not part of the Norwegian squad for this international break. Lars Engebretsen, who has previously worked with the national team, predicts he could be out for two months or more.
Engebretsen told Dagbladet: “I don’t have information on what exactly the MRI showed, but from the video of the injury it could be a lateral ligament injury. If it is such an injury, Odegaard may be out for six to eight weeks.
“But it depends on the size. It could also be a more extensive injury, cruciate ligaments perhaps. In this case the period of absence could be longer.”
Ian Wright raises Mikel Arteta issue
Although his Gunners are currently top of the Premier League table, manager Arteta has faced criticism this season regarding certain team selections.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has expressed concern that some early tactical decisions could prove costly for his former club as the campaign progresses, with the Gunners legend already questioning some of the head coach’s choices.
Wright told Stick to Football: “You know anything? What we did last week reaffirmed to people that, look, we’re out there with a great chance, with a great team. I think we’ve got the best team in the league right now. I don’t care what anyone says, and now it’s up to the manager to make sure he puts the right play on the field at the right time.
“Just because I’ve seen a few results where I think he should have started with different people and finished the game. But then he does his thing as far as getting people to finish.”
The stadium is a perfect example for the Emirates
This week, reports emerged that Arsenal could consider expanding the capacity of the Emirates Stadium from 60,700 to 70,000.
The proposed plan could cost the club more than £500million and would require a complete overhaul of the stadium’s interior.
Even if the implementation of such projects has not been rushed immediately, a European stadium has already embarked on a similar project. Benfica’s Estadio da Luz, designed by the same architects who built Arsenal’s ground, recently underwent renovations.
In preparation for the 2025/26 season, the 65,000 capacity stadium has been renovated to accommodate 68,100 spectators.
The long-term objective is to reach a capacity of 70,000 seats, with the stadium benefiting from an outdoor bowl almost identical to that of the Emirates.
The increase in capacity has been achieved by the addition of two new rows of seats on the lower level of the stadium, a move Arsenal fans can anticipate on their home ground. This stadium could provide a glimpse of what the future holds for Arsenal.