Report: Why Tottenham's staff are suspicious of Arsenal when it comes to Martin Odegaard's fitness this weekend
09/13/2024 01:45 PM
Tottenham take on Arsenal this weekend and while the injury to Martin Odegaard shouldn’t be referred to as a ‘boost’, there’s no doubt if he’s out it helps Spurs’ cause.
Odegaard picked up the knock on international duty and initial reports suggested Odegaard could be missing for a few weeks at least.
The Norwegian – who is Arsenal’s captain – has been influential for Mikel Arteta and with Declan Rice also out suspending, him being missing will be massive.
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However, with Arteta refusing to completely confirm if Odegaard will miss the game at Tottenham, there is a chink of hope among Gunners fans that he might make it.
And further, Miguel Delaney has now claimed in his weekly newsletter for The Independent that even those at Tottenham have suspicions.
Tottenham staff not convinced by Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard stance
According to Delaney’s newsletter (13/09/2024), Tottenham are not entirely convinced that Arsenal are giving the full story when it comes to Odegaard.
Delaney writes how it has been ‘noted’ on Tottenham’s side how slow were Arsenal to give details of Odegaard’s injury, despite the fact he’d have had scans on the ankle on Wednesday.
As it stands, it does look like Odegaard will indeed miss the game and Arsenal are said to be working out a plan to cope without him and Rice.
However, Tottenham will be wary and will plan for an Arsenal with and without Odegaard.
Odegaard could be rushed back if Man City weren’t next
There does seem to be little hope of Martin Odegaard featuring here but you do get the feeling if it wasn’t Man City coming up the week after, Arsenal might really push here.
Odegaard will no doubt still be with the squad when they arrive on Sunday and if he’s not limping and on crutches, he might even turn up looking ready simply to mess with Tottenham.
But the reality is with City coming up, Mikel Arteta will not be taking any sort of risks with his star man.
After all, if he did and then Odegaard did more damage, that would be more costly to Arsenal’s season overall.
