This game will go some way towards deciding the destination of the Premier League title with Arsenal one point ahead of City. Pep Guardiola will once again take on his former protege Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will be looking to do the double over this all-conquering City side.
Arsenal will need to be at their very best and Arteta really can’t afford to have key players coming back from international duty with injuries.
There may have been concerns about Martin Odegaard though as the Arsenal captain was substituted on Norway duty. Odegaard was replaced with 11 minutes to play as Norway drew 1-1 with Slovakia.
Patrick Berg came on to take Odegaard’s place in midfield and the Norway captain being taken off may have left some worried. Former Norway international and current pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft has now taken to social media to calm any fears.
Fjortoft stated that there were ‘no injuries’ for Odegaard as he was substituted, with Berg just coming on for a cameo appearance late on.
If there is any player Arsenal really can’t afford to miss right now, it’s probably Odegaard. Yes, the likes of William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are just as important but Odegaard’s leadership alongside his creativity and technical ability make him indispensable.
Odegaard has proven himself to be a fine captain for Arsenal and his guile around the penalty area makes this Arsenal team tick.
Arteta needs Odegaard available this weekend and hearing that his substitution was nothing injury-related will be a huge relief.
