Martin Odegaard: The Arsenal captain will be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks, missing matches against Tottenham and Manchester City.

**Odegaard Set to Miss North London Derby as Injury Strikes**

Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, is facing a significant setback as he is set to miss the highly anticipated north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. The Norwegian midfielder sustained an injury while on international duty, and medical assessments indicate he will be sidelined for “at least three weeks.”

Upon returning to London on Tuesday, Odegaard underwent scans that revealed no fractures in his ankle. However, Norway’s team doctor, Ola Sand, has warned that the nature of such injuries typically requires a minimum recovery period of three weeks. “Anything other than that is just a bonus, and it can take longer,” Sand stated in an interview with VG.

The prognosis from the MRI examination suggests that while Arsenal are confident there is no fracture, the recovery process may still be lengthy. Sand elaborated, “In the event of a fracture, we are talking about being out of action for six weeks plus.”

Odegaard’s absence is a significant blow for the Gunners, particularly as they navigate a crucial stretch of early-season fixtures. Mikel Arteta’s side will face their fierce rivals Tottenham away on Sunday in the Premier League, followed by a challenging UEFA Champions League opener against Atalanta next Thursday.

The schedule does not ease up, as Arsenal will then travel to face reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Following that, they will take on Bolton in the League Cup and Leicester City in the league. Additionally, they have a high-stakes encounter with Paris Saint-Germain in Europe within the next three weeks.

With Odegaard out of the picture, Arsenal’s midfield options are looking particularly thin for the derby. Declan Rice is suspended following a red card against Brighton, and new signing Mikel Merino is also nursing an injury.

Odegaard has been instrumental in Arsenal’s strong start to the season, helping the team secure victories against Wolves and Aston Villa, alongside a draw with Brighton in their opening three league matches. Last season, he made a significant impact, scoring 11 goals and providing 11 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions.

As the Gunners prepare for a challenging few weeks ahead, the absence of their captain will undoubtedly be felt on the pitch.