Arsenal's Captain Odegaard Urges Teammates to Rise Above Injury Challenges
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Synopsis
As Arsenal prepares for their match against Leicester, captain Martin Odegaard stresses the importance of players stepping up amid injury challenges. The team faces significant absences, including key forwards, ahead of their crucial game at the King Power Stadium.
Key Takeaways
- Odegaard calls for team resilience amidst injuries.
- Arsenal's attacking options are severely limited.
- Return of Ben White adds to squad depth.
- Challenges ahead in the league title race.
- Upcoming game against Leicester is crucial.
Leicester, Feb 15 (NationPress) As Arsenal gears up for their match against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium this Saturday, captain Martin Odegaard emphasized the necessity for players to elevate their performance due to the significant number of absences caused by injuries.
Arsenal faced a setback during their training camp in Dubai, with their sole remaining striker Kai Havertz suffering a torn hamstring. The German forward has been sidelined for the remainder of the season, which further limits the options available for Arsenal's attacking line-up.
The Gunners can only count on Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, and Leo Trossard to lead the attack, and they will need to find ways to penetrate the Foxes' defense without any traditional strikers available.
"Last year was fantastic after the break, giving us a chance to recover a bit between matches. It was beneficial except for the injury to Kai Havertz. Every match comes with its own pressure. With the current injuries, it is crucial for the players present to rise to the occasion, and that is our aim," Odegaard stated to TNT Sports ahead of the game.
Fullback Ben White is also back on the bench for the Gunners after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out since November.
Mikel Arteta’s squad is currently trailing league leaders Liverpool by seven points as they strive for their first league title since 2004. With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli not expected to return until March and forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz out for the season, making a comeback in the league will be a tough challenge for the Gunners.
Starting XIs:
Leicester XI: Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen, Ndidi, Soumare, Khannouss, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Vardy.
Subs: Stolarczyk, Coady, Winks, Mavididi, Daka, Skipp, Vestergaard, Coulibaly, Buonanotte.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Sterling, Trossard.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Merino, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji.
