Martin Ødegaard has missed nine Arsenal matches since March 1, playing just two of the last eleven games due to recurring injury setbacks.
The Norway captain expressed frustration in the match programme ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League fixture, writing he was “desperate to come back as soon as possible” during this crucial stage of the season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta refused to disclose Ødegaard’s availability before the game, stating he would wait until the next morning to assess the situation and make the right decisions for the player.
By matchday, it was confirmed Ødegaard would miss the encounter, marking another absence in a season where injuries have limited his involvement to roughly a third of Arsenal’s fixtures.
Arteta acknowledged the captain’s impact when available, saying every time Ødegaard plays, “you see another dimension,” while noting the player’s eagerness to rejoin the squad despite his misfortune.
The uncertainty around Ødegaard’s fitness comes just two days before Arsenal’s high-stakes Premier League clash with Manchester City, a match Arteta described as one of the biggest in English and international football in recent memory, capable of either deciding the title race or reopening it completely.
Arteta revealed Ødegaard was among a group of players being assessed for potential availability for the Sunday fixture, though he remained tight-lipped about specific injury details, as is his custom before matches.
Despite the setbacks, Arteta praised Ødegaard’s contributions to the club, the team and personally, calling them “enormous” in an interview with VG.
However, the midfielder’s limited playing time has sparked debate among Arsenal supporters, with some questioning his long-term future at the club, particularly as Declan Rice has stepped up in his absence and taken over the captaincy on occasion.
Tom Canton, host of the Gooner Talk podcast and contributor to Football London, told VG that discussions about Ødegaard’s future will intensify in the summer, especially as his current contract enters its final two years.
With two years remaining on Ødegaard’s deal, the club faces a critical juncture where transfer value begins to decline rapidly, prompting strategic decisions about whether to sell now or risk losing him for less—or nothing—later.
National team coach Ståle Solbakken expressed confidence that Ødegaard will remain in North London, noting the player has started all 30 of Norway’s matches since he took charge, though Norway has had to manage without him in 10 of their last 16 games.
Solbakken downplayed Ødegaard’s recent injury as a minor setback, stating he believes it is not serious and expects the midfielder to return to action soon, emphasizing the need to avoid repeated setbacks.
Norway’s first World Cup match is scheduled for June 16 against Iraq, adding context to the timing of Ødegaard’s recovery and availability for international duty.
Why is Martin Ødegaard missing so many games this season?
He has suffered recurring injury problems, including a recent setback during Arsenal’s match against Sporting that ruled him out of the subsequent league game against Bournemouth, continuing a pattern that has limited him to just two appearances in the last eleven fixtures.
What does Mikel Arteta say about Ødegaard’s importance to the team?
Arteta stated that every time Ødegaard plays, “you see another dimension,” and praised his enormous contribution to the club, the team, and personally, despite the frustration caused by his limited availability due to injuries.