Arsenal captain Odegaard sidelined for weeks with MCL knee injury

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will be sidelined for a number of weeks after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday, raising the prospect that the midfielder will not return until after the November international break. The 26 year old was substituted in the first half of Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham on October 3 and subsequently withdrew from Norway's squad to remain at the club for further tests and rehabilitation.

Arteta told reporters that Odegaard is "evolving well" but that there is "no definite date" for his return, adding that "it will be weeks" and that the club must monitor how the knee responds to the next stages of his rehab. The injury comes on the back of a shoulder problem that had already limited Odegaard's starts this season; he has been substituted before halftime in three consecutive Premier League starts. Odegaard has made seven appearances across all competitions this season, contributing two assists, including a standout display in the Champions League win over Olympiacos.

The club confirmed the MCL diagnosis earlier in the month and said Odegaard would remain at London Colney to recover, a...