Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, has suffered a substantial ankle ligament injury, ruling him out of action for an unspecified period, as announced by manager Mikel Arteta on Wednesday. The injury was sustained while Odegaard was playing for Norway earlier this month, and subsequent scans have revealed the severity of the issue. Arteta stated, “It’s something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months.”

The absence of Odegaard comes as Arsenal prepares to face Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday followed by a game against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday. Odegaard, a pivotal player for Arsenal, has been instrumental in the team’s performance, with Arsenal finishing as runner-up to City in the past two seasons. Arteta emphasized Odegaard’s importance by saying, “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.”

With Odegaard sidelined, Arteta sees this as an opportunity for the team to demonstrate its versatility and for other players to step up and contribute effectively. It will be a significant test for Arsenal to show adaptability and utilize different strategies in the absence of Odegaard.