Why Martin Odegaard missed Arsenal vs Man City after surprise Mikel Arteta call

Martin Odegaard missed Arsenal's game against Manchester (Image: (Photo by Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock))

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Martin Odegaard was not passed fit to join Bukayo Saka in the matchday squad in Sunday's Premier League clash against Manchester City.

Odegaard was forced off in the first-half of the Gunners' 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last week with another shoulder problem. The Norway international landed heavily on his left shoulder and was clearly distressed before being replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

He was also forced off with a similar problem in August when Arsenal beat Leeds United. Odegaard missed the Champions League win over Athletic Club in midweek but Arteta has previously insisted that he is unlikely to need surgery.

On Sunday, Odegaard was left out of the squad completely while Saka returned for selection. The forward had missed the last previous three games after sustaining a muscle problem in the win over Leeds.

Speaking to Sky Sports before the clash with City, Arteta confirmed that his captain wasn't fit enough to be named in the squad at the Emirates Stadium. Asked when he made a decision on returning Saka to the squad, he said: “Yesterday (Saturday), because Martin Odegaard wasn’t fit enough to be here and Piere [Hincapie] as well, he’s out of the squad.

"Thankfully we got Bukayo back and Ben as well, so really good.”

Arsenal also welcomed William Saliba back to the squad after he missed the win over Forest. The defender came back in for Cristhian Mosquera, who has been superb in his absence, alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

In an interview with the club's media ahead of Sunday's game against City, Odegaard lifted the lid on his current condition.

"First, a quick update on my fitness," Odegaard started. "My shoulder was very sore, but I've just been taking it day by day this week, working hard to hopefully be ready in time for today’s game. It’s the same shoulder that I hurt in the Leeds United game, pretty much the same injury again, so it's just really bad luck.

"The first injury had healed really well, I was over it – but then the same thing happened again. It had never happened to me in 11 years, but then it happens twice in two weeks so it’s a strange one, and very unfortunate.

"The challenge itself was fine. I think three of us went for the same ball, and I felt something connect with my foot which kind of flipped me forward, and I couldn’t do anything about how I landed.

"It was really tough to come off because I was excited to be playing at home again, feeling good after the internationals and really wanting to be out there after coming off in the Leeds game."