Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard will be sidelined for several weeks due to a knee injury. Ødegaard sustained a medial collateral ligament injury during the 2-0 victory over West Ham before the international break, forcing him to withdraw from the Norwegian national team. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed there is no set return date, though Ødegaard's recovery is progressing well. This is his third injury this season, following two shoulder issues that kept him out against Leeds in August and sidelined him for three matches the following month.

Ødegaard's absence presents a significant challenge for Arteta, who is already managing without key players. Despite leading the Premier League, Arsenal's ongoing injury issues are concerning. The team has shown resilience in coping without some of its stars, marking a notable improvement from last season.