Mikel Arteta provides update on injured star Martin Odegaard as he reveals injured Arsenal captain has suffered ‘quite significant’ ankle ligament damage – but refuses to give timescale on his return

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a worrying update on Martin Odegaard‘s ankle injury, admitting the damage he sustained to his ankle was ‘significant’.

Odegaard limped off in the second half of his country’s 2-1 win over Austria in the Nations League last week and appeared to be in tears as he hobbled off the pitch.

He was later seen on crutches as he limped on to a private jet but early reports suggested the injury would be a matter of weeks not months.

However, Arteta has confirmed that new scans have revealed the problem is more severe.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday’s Champions League opener at Atalanta, Arteta said: ‘after recent scans the scans showed that he’s got some damage especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle. 

‘It’s something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while.’ 

When he was asked how the team will get by without their captain, Arteta responded: ‘he’s our captain. He’s been one of the biggest and best players in our team. Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. 

‘It’s a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face.’ 

Arteta’s men did brilliantly in the absence of their skipper and the suspended Declan Rice at the weekend, coming away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with all three points.

Defender Gabriel Magalhaes got the only goal of the game AND odegaard will be missing another huge game on Sunday when his side travel to face Man City at the Etihad.