Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has suffered a new knee injury setback during the Champions League match against Sporting CP. He expressed hope that it 'shouldn’t be too bad' and is eager to return soon amid a crucial phase of the season. The injury caused him to miss Arsenal's recent Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard felt his knee during the second half of the Gunners' 1-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Sporting CP at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Portugal. He had played 71 minutes before coming off, having recently returned from a previous knee issue sustained in a 2-1 FA Cup fifth-round loss to Southampton. Odegaard missed Arsenal's subsequent 2-1 home Premier League defeat to Bournemouth as a result. Arsenal currently lead Manchester City by six points atop the Premier League table, though their advantage narrowed after the Bournemouth loss and City's 3-0 victory at Chelsea. The teams face off on April 19, a match that could prove decisive for the title, with City holding a game in hand. Odegaard wrote in his programme notes ahead of the Champions League return leg against Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on April 15: “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.” Odegaard has made 29 appearances across all competitions this season, starting 18, with two goals and six assists. Arsenal's remaining fixtures include home games against Sporting CP, Newcastle United, Fulham, and Burnley, as well as trips to Manchester City, West Ham, and Crystal Palace.
