Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was pictured boarding a plane on crutches following the injury he sustained whilst playing for Norway on Monday night.
The 25-year-old twisted his ankle midway through the second half of the 2-1 win over Austria and he was visibly in tears as he was taken off the pitch.
With the North London derby coming up this weekend, supporters on X are resigned to the fact that they will be without their talisman:
I hate international breaks 😢
— Baki (@Bakijuniors) September 10, 2024
This is totally devastating as an Arsenal fan
— Chuks Irechukwu (@Chuksirechukwu) September 10, 2024
time to live with it,think he would be out for a month or so
— Derrick Teem🇰🇪 (@teem_derrick) September 10, 2024
Out for Sunday. For sure 👎🏾
— B.Gunners (@boubagunners) September 10, 2024
We really have a long day this coming Sunday
— ARAP ACE 😈 (@_ONE_ACE_) September 10, 2024
Loaning Viera and selling Smith Rowe will haunt Arsenal forever
— Bongwe ka Maphosa (@bongwe_ncube) September 10, 2024
I don’t think Arteta has any other plan without Odegaard in the midfield.
— ONE KOBO (@onekobo93) September 10, 2024
How long will Odegaard be out for?
You can read a more comprehensive update in our injury news post but, based on what Norway’s doctor has said, it’s likely that the midfielder will be out for weeks rather than months.
Odegaard is probably on crutches as a precaution but it is still not an image that fans want to see.
Who will Arsenal start in his place against Tottenham?
With Declan Rice suspended and Mikel Merino also sidelined, though, there are not many other options. Jorginho and Thomas Partey could sit at the base of the midfield but the no.10 position is now up for grabs.
A lot could depend on the fitness of other players. If Gabriel Jesus is fit, it would allow manager Mikel Arteta to play Kai Havertz in a deeper position.
