Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard was cautiously optimistic when assessing his chances of making a swift return to the pitch after what he bitterly described as an “unlucky” run of injuries.
The Norwegian playmaker has certainly suffered from some misfortune. Ødegaard became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted in the first half of three consecutive top-flight appearances after twice damaging his shoulder before sustaining the knee issue which is currently plaguing him.
When faced with reports that Ødegaard would be sidelined until at least the second half of November, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta accepted that he would be without his skipper for “a few weeks.”
The talismanic midfielder would not be drawn into a specific timeline, instead asking for patience. “It’s tricky to set a return date with this type of injury because, especially it being my [stronger] left leg, a lot depends on how it goes when I start getting back on the pitch,” Ødegaard wrote in Arsenal’s programme ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League thumping of Atlético Madrid.
“Sometimes it can be quite sore when you start passing the ball and shooting and all these things with that leg, so it’s really hard to say a date. All I can say is I’m progressing really well at the moment. I think we will know more when I start getting back on the training pitches and we’ll see how that goes. If that goes really well then it can be quick.”
