Arsenal fans were surprised to see Martin Odegaard on the bench in the clash against Brighton, especially given his recent performances as captain. However, coach Mikel Arteta reveals that the decision was made due to the player not fully recovering from an illness, along with another key player Havertz. This comes as a rare occurrence for the usually consistent playmaker, but it seems to be a precautionary measure by the team.
Odegaard Rested for Brighton Clash Amid Illness
Arsenal fans were surprised to see skipper Martin Odegaard on the bench for their match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The Norwegian has been in excellent form for the Gunners, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in all competitions this season.
However, manager Mikel Arteta revealed after the game that Odegaard had been struggling with an illness and was not fully fit to start.
"Martin has been feeling unwell for the last few days," Arteta said. "He trained yesterday but he wasn't feeling great today. We decided to give him a rest and hopefully he'll be back for the next game."
Odegaard's absence was a significant blow for Arsenal, who were also without fellow playmaker Kai Havertz due to illness. The Gunners struggled to create chances in the first half and went into the break trailing 1-0.
They improved after the interval but could not find an equalizer, and Brighton held on for a 1-0 victory.
Odegaard is expected to return to the Arsenal starting lineup for their next match, against Manchester City on February 15.
Background
Odegaard joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021 and made the move permanent in the summer. He has quickly become a key player for the Gunners, and his performances have earned him the captaincy.
Odegaard is a versatile playmaker who can operate in a number of positions. He is comfortable on the ball, has good vision, and is a threat from set pieces.
Top 5 FAQs
Why was Odegaard on the bench against Brighton? Odegaard was on the bench against Brighton because he was unwell and not fully fit to start.
When will Odegaard return to the Arsenal starting lineup? Odegaard is expected to return to the Arsenal starting lineup for their next match, against Manchester City on February 15.
What is Odegaard's playing style? Odegaard is a versatile playmaker who can operate in a number of positions. He is comfortable on the ball, has good vision, and is a threat from set pieces.
What are Odegaard's strengths and weaknesses? Odegaard's strengths include his vision, creativity, and passing ability. He is also a good dribbler and can score goals from distance. However, he can sometimes be slow to start games and is not the best defender.
What is Odegaard's future at Arsenal? Odegaard is now a key player for Arsenal and is expected to be a part of the club's long-term plans. He has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
Real Madrid showcased their superiority in a 5-0 victory against Club Deportiva Minera in the Copa del Rey, with Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, and Luka Modric all getting on the scoresheet. Valverde opened the scoring with a stunning volley, while Camavinga and Guler scored with commanding headers. After the match, Valverde highlighted his satisfaction with his role and the coach's trust in him. Modric's impressive goal post-break, accompanied by Brahim Diaz's assist, further solidified Madrid's dominance. Despite Minera's attempts, goalkeeper Fran Martinez's commendable saves were not enough to stop Madrid's five-goal spree.
Real Madrid dominated their first Copa del Rey game against Deportiva Minera, securing a comfortable 4-0 victory. Luka Modric, at 39 years old, became the oldest player to score for the club, adding a fourth goal for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga were also on the scoresheet, making for a successful debut for Los Blancos in the tournament.
summary: South Africa allrounder Wiaan Mulder caused a heated exchange with former Pakistan captain Babar Azam during the second Test match. Mulder was seen aggressively throwing the ball at Babar, leading to a verbal altercation between the two players. The incident occurred during Pakistan's second innings, which saw their opening pair Shan Masood and Babar put up a strong resistance against the South African bowlers.
Liverpool and Manchester United played to an exciting 2-2 draw on Sunday, marked by a number of standout performances and controversial moments. Among the latter was Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez's reckless challenge on Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt during the final stretch of the match. While Nunez was booked for the challenge, he was criticized by former Chelsea player Pat Nevin for being "staggeringly fortunate" to escape a red card for what Nevin described as an "absolutely horrible" tackle. Despite the intense end to the game, both teams showed signs of improvement, with Manchester United notably benefitting from working with new head coach Ruben Amorim for a full week prior to the match.
Yograj Singh, former Indian cricketer and father of Yuvraj Singh, shared his thoughts on the Indian team's recent 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He highlighted Virat Kohli's dismissals throughout the series and suggested that someone should have advised him not to play a certain shot. Singh emphasized the importance of man-management in addition to coaching for players representing their country. He also praised Gautam Gambhir's ability to lead the team but stressed the need for proper management to keep the younger players together.
The group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 has concluded and the knockout teams have been decided. Among the top performers, Karun Nair stood out as the captain of Vidarbha, leading his team to the quarter-finals with a perfect record. The 33-year-old batsman also set a new List A world record by remaining unbeaten in four consecutive matches and scoring a total of 542 runs before being dismissed in the fifth match.
The highly anticipated Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield did not disappoint, with fans and experts alike raving about the intense and brilliant performance from both teams. Follow along with Mail Sport's live updates for the latest news and highlights from this unforgettable match.
According to reports, FC Barcelona is determined to secure a contract extension for Pedri until 2030, amidst their ongoing efforts to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor this month. The club is also looking to announce other deals, such as for Gavi and Ronald Araujo, and have already agreed on a contract with Marc Bernal. However, the success of these plans hinges on resolving the Olmo and Victor registration issues. Even though the team's star midfielder, Pedri, recently signed on for an additional four years, the news may be overshadowed by their inability to play Olmo and Victor for the rest of the season.
The group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 recently came to an end with 10 teams qualifying for the knockouts. While some heavyweights like Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Saurashtra missed out on the knockouts, the tournament witnessed stellar performances from a range of veteran stars and youngsters. Karun Nair's unbeaten knock of 542 runs in five innings led Vidarbha to the quarter finals with a spotless record, while Mayank Agarawal's four centuries helped Karnataka secure a spot in the quarter finals.
Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and his wife Dhanashree, a popular dancer, have reportedly been facing divorce rumours as fans noticed their absence from each other's social media and cryptic posts about 'negativity' and 'ending'. Amidst the speculation, a Reddit post discussing the couple's relationship has gone viral, adding fuel to the ongoing controversy. As Dhanashree continues to work on her upcoming projects and post pictures on Instagram, Yuzvendra has been absent from her profile for months, and their last public appearance together was in July 2020.