Mikel Arteta has denied that Martin Odegaard’s role as Arsenal’s captain is at risk, despite the midfielder playing a little bit less in recent weeks.
Arsenal’s last three games have been a little unusual, in that Martin Odegaard has been fit to play in all three, but he hasn’t completed more than an hour in any of them.
The Gunners captain came off before the hour mark against Nottingham Forest, before sitting on the bench for the entirety of Arsenal’s trip to Inter Milan. He returned to the starting lineup against Manchester United, but again came off before 60 minutes.
Even in the two games prior to this run, Odegaard only completed 68 minutes against Chelsea and 21 against Portsmouth. You have to go back to 2025 to find the Norway international’s last full 90.
The run raises some questions about the 27-year-old, and whether Mikel Arteta still considers him a key player in vital moments. But when asked whether Odegaard’s role as captain could be at risk on Tuesday, Arteta was emphatic.
“No,” Arteta responded. “The minutes [he plays] as well are related because obviously he had two shoulder injuries and he was out for six weeks with a knee injury as well.
“We have the possibility to change games and the games maybe require something different and every player is very important to be able to achieve that.”
It’s true that Odegaard has struggled with injuries this season, picking up three different injuries in his first three Premier League appearances at the Emirates Stadium in 2025/26.
In all, the former Real Madrid man has missed 11 matches, as well as most of the three in which he had to come off injured.
That’s quite a significant portion of the campaign, especially for someone who missed less than 10 games injured in his first three and a half seasons with the club.
But Arsenal need their captain to find some consistency now, as the club approach the business end of the season.