The skipper has endured several injury blows.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is hopeful his latest injury setback “shouldn’t be too bad” and is desperate to return as quickly as possible with the Gunners stumbling significantly in the Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta’s men lead Manchester City by six points at the top of the table, having seen their advantage cut after a dreadful weekend in which they lost at home to Bournemouth and City cruised to a 3-0 win at Chelsea.
Arsenal visit City on Sunday in a game that could ultimately decide the destination of the title, with Pep Guardiola’s men holding a game in hand.
Odegaard was missing from the 2-1 defeat to the Cherries, having sustained an injury in the 1-0 win over Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
Arsenal captain confirms new injury
The Norwegian played 71 minutes at Estadio Jose Alvalade after returning from a knee injury in Arsenal’s shock 2-1 FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Southampton the previous Saturday.
Writing in his programme notes ahead of the return leg with Sporting at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, Odegaard said: “I had to go off during the second half of that game in Portugal last week, feeling my knee, which is why I missed the game at the weekend.
“I caught it a little bit against Sporting, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m desperate to get back as soon as possible because this is the crucial period of the season, in the Premier League and Champions League.”
Odegaard has been limited to 29 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal, making 18 starts as he has dealt with several injury issues.
He has scored two goals and provided six assists this campaign.
Arsenal remaining fixtures
- Sporting CP (H, Champions League) – April 15
- Manchester City (A) – April 19
- Newcastle United (H) – April 25
- Fulham (H) – May 2
- West Ham (A) – May 10
- Burnley (H) – May 17
- Crystal Palace (A) – May 24
The first leg of a prospective Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid would be on April 28-29 with the return leg on May 5-6. The Champions League final is scheduled for May 30.
