Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard and Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer are both set for spells on the sidelines after suffering fresh injury setbacks, their managers confirmed on Friday.
Ødegaard out for weeks
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his skipper will be unavailable for several weeks due to a knee injury sustained during the 2-0 win over West Ham earlier this month.
“It will be weeks, no definite date for his return, but he’s evolving well,” Arteta said ahead of the weekend’s trip to Fulham. “It’s very unlucky what’s happening with him this season. He does everything possible to prevent injuries, but sometimes these things are out of your control.”
Arteta added that the Norwegian midfielder will continue to lead from the sidelines. “He’s the captain — he has to drive the standards, set the example, and bring the energy even when he’s not on the pitch.”
Ødegaard has already missed games this season with a shoulder problem and has started only five matches so far.
Palmer suffers setback
Meanwhile, Chelsea have been hit by another blow with Cole Palmer also ruled out after picking up a muscle injury in training.
Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that the 23-year-old England international will miss “a few games,” including this weekend’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United.
“Cole felt something in his leg during training, and we didn’t want to take any risks,” Maresca said in his pre-match press conference. “He’s been one of our most important players, but his health is the priority. Hopefully, he’ll be back soon.”
Fixture pressure mounting
Both Arsenal and Chelsea face a busy few weeks with league and cup fixtures piling up before the November international break. Arsenal will travel to Fulham on Saturday, while Chelsea host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.
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