Arteta gives an update on Odegaard injury

The Real Madrid loanee missed Arsenal’s Europa League draw against Slavia Prague due to an injury.

Mikel Arteta expects Martin Odegaard to miss the “next game or two” following his absence in Arsenal’s 1-1 Europa League draw with Slavia Prague.

The 22-year-old returned from the international break with an ankle problem. He played the full 90 minutes in the club’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend but was absent in Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final tie.

Now Arteta has admitted the Norwegian may be out of action for a little longer.

Martin Odegaard is expected to miss out again this weekend as continues his recovery from the ankle injury he suffered with Norway: "We don't know, he wasn't able to play (vs Slavia Prague) and he will be out I think for the next game or two. But we don't know yet." #AFC

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) April 9, 2021

“We don’t know, he wasn’t able to play today,” said the Gunners boss on the club’s website. “He will be out I think for the next game or two. But we don’t know yet.”

Arteta’s comments suggest Odegaard will miss Sunday’s trip to Sheffield United in the Premier League. He’ll also be a doubt for Arsenal’s visit to Slavia Prague next Thursday for the return leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

Odegaard’s potential absence for the latter fixture, in particular, is an unwelcome setback. His creativity in the middle of the park would’ve been a welcome asset given how Arsenal struggled to score against Slavia Prague in the first leg.

Nicolas Pepe may have come off the bench to score a late opener, but the Gunners wasted many chances to finish the game off.

Tomas Holes then headed in a stoppage-time equalizer from a corner-kick to bag Slavia Prague a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.