Martin Odegaard confirms new injury blow in 'desperate' Arsenal update | OneFootball

Gunners skipper has been sidelined again ahead of two huge fixtures

Martin Odegaard has confirmed he is once again dealing with a knee injury as he pushes to return for Arsenal.

The midfielder missed six weeks of action due to a knee problem before he returned last week to start in the FA Cup defeat to Southampton.

It is expected that Odegaard will not be involved on Wednesday night in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting, but the Arsenal captain said he is "desperate" to return quickly.

"I had to go off during the second half of that game in Portugal last week, feeling my knee, which is why I missed the game at the weekend," Odegaard wrote in his programme notes.

"I caught it a little bit against Sporting, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad.

"I’m desperate to get back as soon as possible because this is the crucial period of the season, in the Premier League and Champions League."

Odegaard faces a race against time to get back to fitness before Sunday's pivotal trip to Manchester City.

Victory would restore Arsenal's nine-point advantage at the top of the Premier League, but defeat would give City the chance to move to the summit before the Gunners next play.

Odegaard suffered shoulder problems earlier in the season and knee injuries have now hampered his momentum again.

He has started only 13 Premier League matches and just three of Arsenal's 11 games in the Champions League.