Momentum builds its own energy, and Arsenal have been feeding off that since the start of the season. Their narrow 1–0 victory over Crystal Palace didn’t dazzle, but it showed a team that finds ways to win even when rhythm slips away.
Sitting four points clear at the top of the Premier League, the north Londoners have rediscovered the resilience they lost in the final months of last season. However, beneath their early success, concern grows around Mikel Arteta’s squad. Injuries keep returning, and this time they hit the captain, Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal’s title charge faces another test
The Arsenal playmaker has stayed out since he aggravated a knee problem that followed a shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest. He told Arsenal’s media team on 29 October that his recovery remains unpredictable.
He said the injury affects his left foot, especially when he passes or shoots, making it hard for him to set a return date. Despite that uncertainty, the Norwegian international keeps close to the team, joins meetings, and watches matches while helping in any way he can. Arteta draws comfort from his captain’s attitude, but the doubt over his fitness still hangs over the club’s bright start.
“It is tricky with this type of injury because especially being my left foot depends on how it goes when I get back on the pitch.”
“Sometimes it can be quite sore, you know, when you start passing the ball and shooting and all these things, so it is hard to say a date at the moment.”
“It is going really well, I am progressing really well, but we will know more or less when I start getting back on the pitch. If that goes really well, then it can be quick.”
“I am there every day around the team, I’m in the meetings, I’m at the games, so I’m definitely around, but differently, I would say. Just see if the team needs anything, so just trying to make the most out of it.”
Quote via Football Insider
Will Arsenal miss Odegaard’s rhythm?
Many assume that losing the captain will instantly unbalance the team, but recent results tell a different story. Arsenal keep their lead at the top, relying on their structure and collective pressing. Eberechi Eze, who fills in as a temporary number ten, performed with composure and scored the winning goal against Crystal Palace.
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Still, Odegaard’s impact goes beyond numbers. He controls the tempo and decides how quickly Arsenal shift from steady possession to sharp attack. He finds gaps between lines and links with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, giving the team a rhythm that no one else matches.
Without the captain, Arsenal’s attack looks predictable. Their build-up loses flow, and the pressing that usually starts from Odegaard’s movement becomes less sharp. However, Arteta’s squad show signs that they can handle this stretch.
If Odegaard returns before December and stays fit, his absence may remind everyone how adaptable this team has become. Injuries test ambition, but resilience defines champions, and Arsenal look ready to prove they have both.
