‘Never a good sign’ – Arteta’s verdict on Odegaard and Saka injury concerns before Liverpool showdown
Mikel Arteta oversaw Arsenal’s emphatic 5-0 win over Leeds on Saturday, but the night wasn’t entirely positive for the Gunners boss.
Supporters at the Emirates celebrated the pre-match announcement of Eberechi Eze’s arrival before watching their side dismantle Daniel Farke’s men and continue their perfect start to the campaign.
However, the joy was tempered by injuries to Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, both of whom were forced off just a week before Arsenal’s trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.
Arteta’s injury update on Odegaard and Saka
Speaking after the match, Arteta admitted concern over the pair, confirming that both would undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage.
On Odegaard, he explained: “He landed awkwardly and felt something in his shoulder. We’ll need to scan him and find out more tomorrow.”
On Saka, he said: “He felt something in his hamstring while sprinting and battling with a defender. It seems to be the opposite leg to his previous injury, but we’ll know more after the doctors check him. That’s never a good sign, so we’ll have to wait.”
The Spaniard also pointed out that Arsenal have already lost Kai Havertz, Odegaard and Saka in just two weeks, underlining how tough the league is on squad depth.
Arsenal facing major absences for Liverpool clash
Although Arteta didn’t provide a recovery timeline, injury expert @physioscout suggested Odegaard could miss one to two weeks with a minor sprain or up to four with a more serious issue. Saka’s case appears more worrying — best-case scenario is two to four weeks, while a Grade 3 hamstring tear could keep him out for two to three months.
That means the England star will almost certainly miss the Liverpool game, with Havertz also ruled out and Odegaard doubtful.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have injury problems of their own, with Jeremie Frimpong unavailable for the next couple of matches and Conor Bradley only recently returning to training. This could force Dominik Szoboszlai into an unfamiliar right-back role if Joe Gomez isn’t ready.
While Arsenal would undoubtedly be weaker without Saka, Havertz and Odegaard, they still pose one of Liverpool’s toughest challenges this season. Still, no fan of the game would want to see such key players sidelined for too long.
