Arsenal Captain Martin Odegaard Sidelined: The Real Reason He's Missing the Wolves Clash
Not too long ago, Arsenal fans couldn't imagine the Gunners functioning without their skipper leading the charge.
Martin Ødegaard served as the pulse of an Arsenal squad that quickly transformed from top-four aspirants into consistent championship challengers. During their breakthrough 2022–23 campaign under Mikel Arteta's guidance, Ødegaard tallied 22 Premier League goal contributions, featuring 15 strikes—a record for any midfielder in a single season since the league's establishment.
The Scandinavian creator delivered 18 goal contributions the following season in what proved to be an even stronger 2023–24 campaign for Arsenal collectively, though we've witnessed the captain's impact diminish to some degree.
Physical setbacks have been a major factor, but there's been a growing feeling that the Gunners must continue developing, perhaps beyond Ødegaard's influence, to achieve their ultimate breakthrough. His limited pace during transitions has become increasingly problematic; his habit of hesitating near the penalty area has grown frustrating.
The 2025–26 campaign appears set to be Ødegaard's most subdued complete season with Arsenal, though it could conclude with the Gunners claiming the title. The skipper's unavailability due to multiple injuries this term hasn't been severely missed, but his current fitness concern comes when Arteta's squad depth is stretched thin.
Why Martin Ødegaard Isn't Playing vs. Wolves
Why Martin Ødegaard Isn't Playing vs. Wolves
Ødegaard played the entire second period against Brentford last Thursday after coming on for Eberechi Eze at halftime, but was spotted hobbling near the conclusion of an exhausting match in west London. Describing his injury, Arsenal's leader explained, "Hopefully it's nothing serious. We'll assess how things develop leading up to today's match [4–0 victory over Wigan Athletic] and in the coming days.
"I attempted to clear the ball as it dropped, but instead made contact with the opponent slightly, which caused me to overextend my leg and strain the knee."
Ødegaard was absent from Sunday's FA Cup fixture, and Arteta has confirmed his captain will also miss Wednesday evening's journey to Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Arsenal can potentially stretch their Premier League summit advantage to seven points.
Nevertheless, the manager remains optimistic that Ødegaard will recover in time for Sunday's north London clash.
How Mikel Arteta Can Replace Ødegaard
How Mikel Arteta Can Replace Ødegaard
Arsenal are also missing Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino due to injuries, though the former could potentially return against Spurs, while a logical substitute in Ethan Nwaneri was loaned to Marseille during the January window.
Arteta turned to Eberechi Eze against Brentford, but the summer signing was substituted after a lackluster first half performance. Eze has enjoyed one standout display in Arsenal colors—versus Spurs in November—but delivered little beyond that. He showed promise early against Wigan over the weekend, however.
Eze represents the clear substitute, but Bukayo Saka's effectiveness in a central role on Sunday might persuade Arteta to deploy the star winger in this unfamiliar position at Molineux. With Noni Madueke available to replace Saka on the right flank, Arsenal could field all three England stars working together behind a single forward.