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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners are preparing for one of their biggest matches of the season, but injury concerns could severely impact Arteta’s squad selection for the highly anticipated marquee clash against their bitter rivals. If Odegaard fails to win the race against time, Arteta faces a massive midfield crisis as Merino and Declan Rice are also unavailable.
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Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Odegaard picked up the injury during an unfortunate collision with Austria’s Julian Baumgartner, which resulted in a nasty ankle injury during the international break. The Arsenal captain was seen leaving Norway’s camp on crutches, raising concerns about his availability in the immediate future. Although Norwegian FA doctor Ola Sand explained that the injury could keep him sidelined for “three weeks”, MRI scans in London revealed there was no fracture – which is a major relief to the club.
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MIKEL MERINO WILL ‘TAKE A WHILE’
Merino suffered a shoulder fracture during his first training session at Arsenal and has been ruled out for up to two months. Arteta explained that the midfielder is making progress but is still some way off returning to action.
“Better, it’s a slow process and it takes a while to heal,” Arteta said. “We’re using this time to make sure he understands and is back to help the team straight away.”
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
The absence of Merino leaves a gap in Arsenal’s midfield, which has been further exacerbated by the suspension of Rice. The English midfielder is unavailable after receiving a controversial red card during Arsenal’s previous match against Brighton before the international break. This leaves Arteta with limited options in midfield, especially if Odegaard is not fit in time for the derby.
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