The Norwegian playmaker was a surprise absentee from the team sheet (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Martin Odegaard is not fit enough to play any part in Arsenal’s clash with Newcastle United but has backed the rest of the squad to step up.
The Norwegian playmaker has been managing a small issue over the past few weeks and was rested against Sheffield United in last weekend’s thumping 5-0 victory at the Emirates.
He did not start in the midweek defeat to West Ham in the Carabao Cup but did come on for the final 10 minutes, netting the Gunners’ late consolation goal.
Arteta had been happy to see his skipper get some productive minutes against the Hammers and he was spotted in training on Friday, with no suggestions at that stage that he would miss the trip to St James’ Park.
But he was surprisingly absent from the team sheet on Saturday evening, with Kai Havertz picked to start in the advanced midfield role instead, with Arsenal simply saying that he ‘was not fit for today’s squad’.
Arteta has given little away on the exact nature of the issue but believes it offers a chance for the likes of Havertz to make an impression.
Speaking to Sky Sports before kick-off, he said: ‘Unfortunately he’s not available, he’s not fit and we could not play him.
Odegaard, right, in training with Arsenal on Friday (Picture: Getty)
‘He’s our captain and a really important player, but it’s an opportunity for another one to stand up and have a great performance as well.’
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Arteta had said of Odegaard: ‘We have tried to offload him a little bit because he had a little issue that he was grumbling with.
‘He felt much better in the last few days, and we gave a few minutes against West Ham which was good to see, and his contribution was really good. He will train today and if he’s fine he will be ready.’
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Incredibly, Odegaard’s absence marks the first time since September 2022 against Brentford that he has failed to make the matchday squad.
In his absence, Jorginho takes the armband while David Raya returns between the sticks after sitting out the Carabao Cup defeat.
Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli and Takehiro Tomiyasu all also return to the team, while Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has also named a strong side after heavily rotating for the Magpies’ thumping 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in midweek.
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