Mikel Arteta provides update on Odegaard and Saliba injuries – and explains decision to bench Rice in win over Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has not ruled out Martin Odegaard being involved in Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Athletic Club on Tuesday, despite going off injured against Nottingham Forest.

Odegaard suffered another shoulder problem similar to the one which forced him off in the win over Leeds and was replaced by Ethan Nwaneri early on in Arsenal’s 3-0 triumph over Forest.

“Yeah, very similar,” Arteta said when asked if the injury was similar to his previous one.

“I don’t know if it’s exactly the same place but a very similar injury.

“He was uncomfortable to continue. He’s played two games for Norway but unfortunately could not carry on today so we’ll have to assess him with the doctors and see.

“But I’m sure he will try his best to be fit for Tuesday.”

Arteta insists there was little concern about reaggravating the problem going into the game, however.

“I’m not the expert but they weren’t concerned at that level at all,” he said.

“The last few days he was able to manage the pain especially, the injury wasn’t that bad.

“I don’t know the extent of today’s but hopefully not (serious).”

Defender William Saliba, meanwhile, missed the clash with Forest altogether with the injury he picked up in the defeat to Liverpool, but Arteta hopes to have him back shortly.

“He tried yesterday and did the whole session and he was okay but I spoke to him afterwards and he said he needed a few more days,” Arteta said.

“The turnaround has been too quick for the extent of the injury so when a player says don’t push it (I won’t). I think Mosquera was very good.”

Declan Rice was a surprise absentee from the starting 11 but came on in the second half, and Arteta says he wanted to give Mikel Merino a start instead after his impressive form for Spain over the international break.

“Mikel came after scoring four goals in two games, in a really high emotional state,” he said.

“When a player is in that moment, I want to play him, because he’s going to bring something different with the qualities that they have.

“Declan comes in and will have an impact immediately or the next game and that’s what we need to manage in the best possible way.”