Martin Odegaard is optimistic about Bukayo Saka’s availability for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Manchester City, despite Saka’s injury during the game against Lens in France. This setback is a significant blow to Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, especially in the lead-up to what many consider the club’s most crucial match of the season against Manchester City. The visiting team is also dealing with its own challenges, as Kevin De Bruyne is injured, and Rodri is suspended. However, Arsenal’s primary concern is the unfortunate loss of Saka.
There were expectations that the team would be rotated with the Manchester City game in mind, but Arteta opted for a strong lineup in the match against Lens. Martin Odegaard was among the starters and dismissed any concerns about managing both the Premier League and the Champions League simultaneously. He stated, “I don’t believe it’s a problem. Playing in Europe is undoubtedly challenging. We faced a strong opponent today, and they made it tough for us. We need to assess our performance, learn from it, and progress. I’m confident that we will continue to improve, so we’ll take the lessons and move forward.”
Odegaard was substituted in the second half and had a frustrating moment of his own when he lost possession carelessly with a back heel, which left his manager visibly frustrated. However, the injury to Saka was far more devastating, even more so than the loss of points in the group.