Arsenal have been hit with fresh injury concerns following their recent Premier League clash, with fears that captain Martin Ødegaard could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a suspected MCL injury.
Martin Ødegaard injury update
Players often recover from minor MCL sprains within two to three weeks, but early indications suggest Ødegaard’s issue may be more serious. In the worst-case scenario, a torn MCL could keep the Norwegian midfielder out for several months. Arsenal are still awaiting further medical assessments, and no official recovery timeline has been confirmed.
What is certain, however, is that Ødegaard has withdrawn from Norway’s international fixtures against Israel and New Zealand, opting to remain in London for treatment and evaluation.
Declan Rice adds to Arsenal’s growing injury list
Adding to Mikel Arteta’s worries, Declan Rice—who scored the opener against West Ham—was forced off in the second half after appearing to suffer a lower back issue. Fortunately, early reports indicate that Rice’s injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to join up with England’s national team this week. For now, there are no signs he will miss club action, though Arsenal’s medical team will continue to monitor his condition.
Other Arsenal injury updates
Elsewhere, Piero Hincapié is nearing a return to full fitness. The Ecuadorian defender, who has been sidelined with a groin problem, missed the West Ham fixture as Arteta admitted the game “came too soon” for him. The 22-year-old will skip international duty but is expected to be available for selection after the international break, with a potential return against Fulham on October 18.
Meanwhile, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz—both recovering from knee injuries—are expected to be back towards the end of November, while Gabriel Jesus continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury and is targeting a late December return.
With several key players sidelined, Arsenal will be hoping for positive updates in the coming weeks as they look to maintain momentum across both Premier League and Champions League campaigns.