Mikel Arteta explained why Martin Odegaard was left out of Arsenal’s FA Cup win and confirmed the Gunners picked up two new injury problems during the tie.
Arsenal came through the cup match without their captain, with Odegaard missing out because of a knock. Arteta said the midfielder was not risked, describing the issue as something that needed careful management rather than a long-term setback.
The Arsenal boss also revealed there were fresh concerns following the game, confirming two new injury problems for his squad. Arteta admitted the issues are now being assessed, with the club waiting to learn the full extent before making any decisions on availability for upcoming fixtures.
Odegaard’s absence was felt in terms of leadership, but Arsenal still found a way to get the job done in the FA Cup. Arteta praised the resilience of his players and underlined that the priority with Odegaard was to avoid turning a minor problem into a bigger one.
With the season’s schedule tightening, Arteta acknowledged the injury list is a concern and said the medical staff will monitor the situation closely in the days ahead.
