Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is facing terrible time after picking up an ankle injury during Norway’s 2-1 win over Austria in the UEFA Nations League. The mid fielder who has been the face of the Gunner since his move from Real Madrid, was helped by his fellow teammate, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to get off the field. Now the Arsenal fans are facing serious concerns regarding Odegaard’s availability and his upcoming MRI Scan results.
Odegaard Injury: What Happened on the Pitch
The injury took place in the UEFA Nations League game between Norway and Austria. It was Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner who made a challenge on Odegaard. The pain could be seen clearly as he was clutching his ankle. Odegaard did try to continue but the injury was way more serious than what he thought. So it was Erling Haaland who scored the winning goal minutes before had to help his fellow teammate get off the field.
Soon after the match, Norway’s national team doctor, Ola Sand, confirmed that Odegaard would be flying back to London to undergo an MRI scan as there might be a possible fracture. Photos soon started to float around of the Arsenal captain boarding a private plane on crutches. Leaving the Arsenal supporters and the Norwegian national team in deep concern.
Can Arsenal Still Be Title Contenders Without Odegaard
The Importance of Martin Odegaard cannot be overlooked after all what he has done for the team since wearing the armband. He is the main man in the Arteta’s squad, from controlling the play from mid field to providing leadership support on the pitch. His vision, skills and dedication had made him one of the best premier league mid fielder of all time.
The Gunners did start with this season campaign with full strength as well and were again considered a serious contenders for the title. From playing attacking football to pressing their opponent, Odegaard was the main man behind it all. And now losing him, Arsenal could get out of track. It might slow down their momentum. The Gunners could struggle to break tight defenses and this may lead to losing points in important matches. And now if the scan result comes against Arsenal, It might be a problem for them in Champions League as well. And replacing Odegaard is no small task.
Moreover there are going to be psychological impacts too. As he was the one who installed winning mentality in his team. His leadership has been vital both on and off the pitch. So this blow is definitely a huge blow for Arsenal.
Who Can Step up front and Replace Odegaard?
Now moving aside Odegaard, Mikel Arteta will really need to make some tough decisions related to his mid field. Who will he look towards replacing Odegaard? Arsenal does have few options in their bag but none can do what Odegaard brings out on the pitch. Fabio Vieira could be one of the options, who joined Arsenal from FC Porto in the summer of 2022. While he has shown some sparks of brilliance, yet is still adjusting to the physical demands of the Premier League. As Arteta would look for consistent performances from him like Odegaard.
The other option that Arteta have look towards a conservative approach is to make a defensive mid fielder replace Odegaard. But it may come at a cost of playing against their own style, which is attacking football. This decision might change their entire dynamics of gameplay.
Conclusion
With the extent of Odegaard’s injury still not clear, the initial sign doesn’t look very good. Now if the MRI results reveal a ligament damage or a fracture or other such serious injury, it could be a huge setback for Arsenal. As they would have to play a good amount of season without their captain. And all their ambitions for the title could wash away. But if its a minor injury, we can Odegaard return back after a few games in his best shape.
Either way Mikel Arteta still needs to look out for wins with his team without Odegaard. Even if it is for a small term. While the Arsenal fans would be hoping for a positive result from the medical team, because at the end of the day, they need Odegaard if they want to keep their title hopes alive.
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