Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer face extended spells on the sidelines
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Arsenal's Martin Odegaard holding his knee after sustaining an injury against West Ham United on Oct 4.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer will both be spending extended periods in the treatment room, it was revealed on Oct 17.
Odegaard, who was sidelined for two weeks in September due to a shoulder issue, will be out for a few more weeks with a knee problem, while Palmer will be unavailable for another 1½ months due to groin injury.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, whose men visit Fulham on Oct 18, said there is no definite date for the Norwegian midfielder’s return, adding: “But he is evolving well. It’s very unlucky what is happening with him.
“I think he will be back in a few weeks... but we'll have to see how he is progressing.”
Odegaard, 26, is the fourth Gunner currently out of action, with Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke already in the treatment room.
Arteta added that Martin Zubimendi and Ben White, who missed training on Oct 16, will be available against the Cottagers, while their Ecuador centre-back Piero Hincapie may return to the match-day squad after missing a month with a groin injury.
Palmer, who has not played since coming off midway through the first half of Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester United
But Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca on Oct 17: “I was wrong. Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks.”
The Italian, whose team travel to struggling Nottingham Forest on Oct 18, said he was confident the 23-year-old England international would not require surgery.
“We try just to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that when he comes back he’s fully recovered,” he added.
Chelsea have also been beset by injury problems in defence with the in-form Benoit Badiashile out “until December”.
However, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Reece James have overcome issues to be in contention to face Forest.
Maresca will be suspended for the trip to Nottingham after being sent off for his wild celebrations following Estevao’s late winner against Liverpool on Oct 4.
“The first reason is because since I joined the club we never won a game at home in the last minute,” he said, explaining his reaction.
“The other reason is because we were playing against the champions of England, they won the last Premier League, so it was an important moment for sure.
“For me personally it was just a reaction, just a passionate moment, just a normal reaction.”
The Blues’ last-gasp 2-1 victory over the Reds
Arteta’s men have the best defensive record in the league with only three goals conceded in seven matches.
They have also netted 14 Premier League goals, only one fewer than top scorers Manchester City.
They could have scored more but new striker Viktor Gyokeres, the Gunners’ top scorer in this season’s league with three goals, has not netted in his last six appearances in all competitions.
But Arteta believes the Swede still “brings so much to the team”, adding: “I told him before the first meeting that the No. 9 I want is the No. 9 who doesn’t score for six or eight games and he can handle it. If not, we have to go somewhere else.
“Because the pressure and the expectation is going to be there. So if you put on the No. 9 shirt for Arsenal, you have to be able to say, six games I don’t score, will I be a different player or act in a different way?”
Arteta also added that it was too early to start thinking about the title race.
"I prefer to win every game. The only thing we can do is perform on Saturday and win the game," Arteta added.
"That increases the chances of when it really matters, in March and April, that you are in the best possible position." REUTERS
