The international break was supposed to be a reset for Arsenal, who drew its last Premier League match after Declan Rice was sent off with a red card.
Instead, the break brought the Gunners more anxiety as they watched their Norwegian captain Martin Odegaard limp off the field with an ankle injury during a UEFA Nation’s League match against Austria on Monday night.
Norway’s team doctors are optimistic that the ankle is not broken but concede Odegaard could miss several weeks. The injury comes as Arsenal approaches a gauntlet on its schedule.
A thin Arsenal squad will face off with London rival Tottenham on Sunday. Fellow midfielder Rice will miss the North London Derby due to suspension for his red card last match while new signing Mikel Merino has yet to make his debut for the club as he rehabs a shoulder injury. Arsenal’s depth will be tested against a cohesive, dangerous Tottenham midfield.
Then, on Thursday, Sept. 19, Arsenal will travel to face Atalanta — winners of last season’s Europa League — in its first UEFA Champions League match. This game should set the tone for the squad’s European run.
Sunday, Sept. 22, figures to be critical, too, as the Premier League table starts to take shape and Arsenal heads to Manchester City — current leader and last season’s champion. Last season, the matches between the two sides proved the difference in the title race. Arsenal drew its last match with Man City and lost the title by two points.
When a 10-man Arsenal club drew with Brighton at home in its last Premier League outing, the Gunners fell two points behind Man City and Liverpool at the top of the table. The London club needs its captain to play catch-up.
When Odegaard doesn’t start for Arsenal, it affects not only the team’s ability to score but also the team’s ability to win. Arsenal scores over two goals per game and wins 66% of their Premier League games when Odegaard starts, but only score 1.6 goals per game and win 53% of games when he doesn’t, per data from the Premier League.
Since Odegaard’s debut for the club in 2021, he leads Arsenal in chances created and expected assists. The Gunners became true title contenders for the first time since 2016 when the Norwegian joined.
Odegaard’s measurable impact is why fans are frustrated with his injury. The club’s Premier League title chase and Champions League performance could be likely to suffer due to an international match sandwiched into the Gunners’ campaign.
