Arsenal appear to have received a significant injury boost concerning their captain Martin Odegaard ahead of Sunday’s trip to Premier League champions Liverpool.
The 26-year-old playmaker started on the right side of a midfield three, including Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice, in last weekend’s emphatic 5-0 win over newly-promoted Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
However, the Gunners were let concerned when Odegaard was forced off with an injury to his right shoulder in the 38th minute after suffering a heavy fall.
Odegaard, who missed 12 games across all competitions due to injury last season, was not the only star player to pick up an injury against Leeds as Bukayo Saka limped off with a hamstring problem early in the second half.
While head coach Mikel Arteta stated after the match his fears that Saka’s injury could be “significant”, with the winger reportedly facing up to four weeks out, the Spaniard is still in the dark about the severity of Odegaard’s injury.
“Martin felt something in his shoulder when he landed," Arteta told reporters "We don't know [how bad it is]. We'll have to scan him [on Sunday] and understand a bit better."
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard pictured on August 23, 2025
Odegaard included in Norway squad as Liverpool appearance cannot be ruled out just yet
Arsenal have since been given hope that Odegaard will not be facing a lengthy period on the sideline,s as Norway have included the playmaker in their national team squad ahead of next month’s international break.
Manage by Stale Solbakken, Norway are scheduled to face Finland in a friendly fixture on September 4, before playing host to Moldova in a 2026 World Cup qualifier six days later.
Confirmation of Odegaard’s inclusion suggests that his injury is not as severe as first feared and it has sparked hope that he could even feature in some capacity in Arsenal’s Premier League showdown with Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.
Arteta would ideally like to have the 65-cap Norway international fit and available to start in the contest at Anfield, but the Gunners will also be reluctant to gamble with his fitness and the club’s medical team will ultimately make the final call closer to kickoff to determine whether he can feature or not.
If Odegaard is not deemed fit to start, then Arteta could call upon new signing Eberechi Eze, who is in line to make his Arsenal debut after completing his £67.5m transfer from Crystal Palace last weekend.
Both Kai Havertz and Christian Norgaard - another new signing - remain sidelined with injuries, but Rice, Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Ethan Nwaneri and 15-year-old Max Dowman - who made his Premier League debut against Leeds - are other midfield options at Arteta’s disposal.
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