Martin Odegaard's possible return date emerges as Liverpool's title rivals receive huge blow
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard could be sidelined until Christmas with the ankle injury he sustained while on international duty with Norway.
The Gunners captain's left foot got caught in the ground as he was challenged by Austria's Christoph Baumgartner and he was in significant discomfort as he received treatment before being taken off.
HITC reports that Odegaard is facing several months out, with Arsenal wary of rushing him back and risking his chances of being fully fit for the second half of the season
Mikel Arteta addressed Odegaard's injury ahead of Arsenal's opening Champions League match of the campaign against Atalanta on Thursday night. "The scan showed some damage around the ligaments in the ankle so we are going to miss him," Arteta said. "It's something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months."
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Arsenal won its first game after the international break without Arteta, recording a 1-0 victory away to Tottenham, but the Gunners will face a sterner test this weekend when they travel to champions Manchester City.
Arteta admitted that it will be a test of his players' character to go to the Etihad without Odegaard. "He's our captain," added Arteta. "He's been one of the biggest and best players in our team.
"Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It's a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face."