Mikel Arteta shares whether doctors feel Martin Odegaard needs surgery after injury in Arsenal win

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Martin Odegaard was substituted early in Arsenal’s big win over Nottingham Forest, handing Mikel Arteta a major injury concern for Tuesday’s Champions League opener.

Odegaard has only recently recovered from a shoulder issue suffered in last month’s win over Leeds, making his first start for Arsenal on Saturday since that injury.

However, Odegaard was forced off in the first half with an apparent recurrence of the issue, putting his involvement in Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Athletic Bilbao in jeopardy.

Speaking after the game, Arteta couldn’t confirm whether Odegaard would be available for the Champions League fixture.

Martin Odegaard has shoulder injury, Mikel Arteta doesn’t expect him to require surgery

Arteta told TNT Sports that Odegaard was replaced in Arsenal’s win over Nottingham Forest after feeling an issue in the same shoulder that saw him substituted against Leeds recently.

“It’s the same shoulder. He was uncomfortable to continue,” Arteta said. “That’s a shame because he played with the national team and was feeling good. He’ll do everything to be involved midweek but I don’t know.”

In his press conference, Arteta said he did not expect Odegaard to require surgery but the relevant tests have not yet been conducted.

“I’m sure he will try his best to be fit for Tuesday,” the manager said. “I’m not the expert [on whether surgery is needed]. They [doctors] weren’t concerned at that level at all.”

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal ‘need replacements’ amid ongoing injury issues to Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka

With Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka injured, any injury blow to Odegaard would represent another setback to Arteta’s side.

The manager spoke of the need for quality options as the Champions League returns and the Premier League begins with a high standard at the top of the table.

“When you look at other teams and the squads they have built, we all have the same. You want to be competing at the very highest level,” Arteta explained.

“We’ve lost Kai [Havertz] already for three of four months, Bukayo [Saka] for a few weeks and you need replacements. In the Premier League, it is so tough.”