Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is battling to recover in time for this weekend’s clash with Manchester City after sustaining another shoulder injury.
Odegaard suffered the injury in the Gunners’ recent 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
The Norway international was forced off during the first half following a collision involving teammate Jurrien Timber and Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
Youngster Ethan Nwaneri was introduced as his replacement. The setback came just weeks after Odegaard was withdrawn against Leeds United in August with a similar problem, confirmed by Mikel Arteta to involve the same left shoulder.
Odegaard missed Monday’s training session and was ruled out of Arsenal’s Champions League opener away to Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday night. The recurrence of the injury has sparked concern, given it is his second issue in three weeks.
However, medical assessments have provided a measure of reassurance. Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of performance specialists Kitman Labs, dismissed fears of a long-term problem such as a broken collarbone.
He identified the issue as an acromioclavicular ligament injury, believed to be low-grade, with an estimated recovery period of just 7-14 days.
“It looked mostly like an AC (acromioclavicular) injury. It is much more typical in rugby,” Smith told Metro.
“Typical timelines for injuries like that, I would expect that is on the lower grade so a period of 10 to 14 days or even seven to 14 days off the back of that fall. Maybe faster if he didn’t exacerbate things too badly.”
Arteta has suggested that surgery will not be required, raising hopes that his captain’s absence will be brief.
There is growing optimism at the club that Odegaard could return to training before the end of the week and be available for the crucial Premier League encounter with Pep Guardiola’s City side at the Emirates.
