Arteta provides injury updates on Martin Odegaard, Bukayo saka and Saliba

The sight of Martin Odegaard leaving the pitch with another shoulder problem – for the second home game in a row – is a clear cause for concern, although Mikel Arteta doesn’t believe surgery will be required.

The captain first hurt his right shoulder in the 5-0 win over Leeds three weeks ago. He battled back to feature at Anfield, though only from the bench, and after two games with Norway insisted in his programme notes that “it’s fully recovered now.” That optimism didn’t last long. A heavy collision with Jurrien Timber in today’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest forced him off in the 18th minute.

Asked if it was a recurrence, Arteta said: “Very similar. I don’t know if it’s exactly the same place but it’s a very similar injury. He wasn’t comfortable continuing, he’s played two games with Norway, unfortunately he cannot carry on today. So we have to assess him with the doctors and see but I’m sure he will try his best to be fit for Tuesday.”

Pressed on the prospect of surgery, he added: “No, I don’t think that. I’m not an expert but they [the doctors] weren’t concerned at that level at all. The last time in a few days he was able to manage the pain especially as the injury wasn’t that bad. I don’t know the extent of today’s [injury] but hopefully [he’ll be okay].”

Whether Odegaard is on the plane to Bilbao for Arsenal’s Champions League opener remains to be seen.

The same goes for William Saliba. Despite making an unexpected return to training on Friday, the defender hasn’t fully shaken off the ankle knock he picked up at Anfield.

“He trained yesterday and he did the whole session and he was OK. I spoke to him afterwards and he said I think I need a few more days. The turnaround has been too quick for the extent of the injury so when a player says that, don’t push it,” said Arteta.

The silver lining has been Cristhian Mosquera. The Spain under-21 international impressed off the bench against Leeds, held his own at Anfield and looked assured again this afternoon.

“You’ve just seen today and what he did in Anfield, very, very hard he’s going to push him [Saliba]. This kid wants it a lot and he’s so willing to learn. He’s got some great qualities that fit very well in any position that we want to use him in relation to the connections and the qualities of the other defenders. We need two players per position, this is football,” noted Arteta.

The squad depth is such that even with Saliba, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus all out, there was no room for new signing Christian Nørgaard, while Declan Rice started on the bench.

Explaining the decision to start Mikel Merino ahead of Rice, Arteta said: “Mikel [Merino] comes back after scoring four goals in two games [for Spain] with a really high emotional state and I want to use that when a player is in that moment.

“I want to play him because he’s going to bring something different with the qualities that they have and Declan comes in and it will have an impact immediately or he’ll play the next game. That’s what we need to try to manage the best possible way.”

Reflecting on the options at his disposal, the boss added: “If we hadn’t done that [in the transfer market] with the injuries that we have, unfortunately, some of them are very difficult to control, we’d be in a very different place. We knew that that was the standard of the other teams in the league and in Europe, and you can see that.

“I’m very happy because it gives us options, it gives us the capacity as well to change games, to have presence in the team. Now we have to make sure that everybody feels connected and important.”

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TagsCristhian Mosqueradeclan ricemartin odegaardmikel artetaMikel Merino

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That kid, Mosquera, is a monster.

He is a capable backup for Saliba until he returns.

No shaking.

He was magnificent today. I hope we’re not over indexing 2 games but he looks like a sensational purchase. Props Berta and the scouts.

I’d probably prefer Saliba’s experience, but right now I’ll have no worries if he starts against City next week.

We’ve not had options for years. My goodness it feels great.

With the squad we now have there is no reason to rush players back too early from injury. Last year Arteta might have been tempted to play Saliba today, but even next week no need to rush him back unless he is close to 100%. We have starter quality depth at every position on the field now and with players that can play multiple positions have multiple levels of depth in many positions.

Mosquera will be starting for Spain in the world cup.

There is no significant drop in player quality. In fact, the new signings and those deputising the usually starters are setting the bar really high. Madueke was just as menacing as Saka, and even his in-swing corner kicks were as accurate and threatening. Eze, definitely an upgrade of Martinelli. No Saliba? No problem. I am starting to wonder, if we played with that kind of confidence, could we have gotten Liverpool?

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Kim Kallstrummingmyselfsilly

Kim Kallstrummingmyselfsilly

6 hours ago

Odegard has a classic ACJ mechanism – fell onto the apex of his shoulder with his arm being pulled across his body. Definitely painful and definitely something that is going to be flared by more impact to it but not something that will cause a long term issue. Even if the clavicle (collarbone) separates entirely from the scapula (shoulder blade) it’s rarely managed with surgery. For someone who isn’t doing a contact sport like rugby this won’t be a long time out, it’s just very unfortunate that he fell onto that same shoulder again