Martin Odegaard has confirmed the nature of his injury and is hopeful that he won’t be sidelined for too long.
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal is spoken to by teammate Gabriel during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on April 07, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Martin Odegaard was missing from Arsenal’s squad for the Premier League game against Bournemouth at the weekend after going off against Sporting in the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter final last week.
There have been few updates about him until this point, with the Norway manager Stale Solbakken confirming he had a problem but that it didn’t seem like it would keep him out of action too long.
At his press conference ahead of the second leg against Sporting on Wednesday night, Mikel Arteta was vague, leaving supporters wondering what is going on.
Now, Odegaard himself has clarified the problem, writing in his programme notes, “I had to go off during the second half of that game in Portugal last week, feeling my knee, which is why I missed the game at the weekend.
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal is challenged by Joao Simoes of Sporting Clube de Portugal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on April 07, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
“I caught it a little bit against Sporting, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m desperate to get back as soon as possible because this is the crucial period of the season, in the Premier League and Champions League.”
This is Odegaard’s third knee problem of the season, all of them stemming from contact injuries.
He has also spent time on the sidelines twice with shoulder problems as his injury-plagued campaign continues.
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