Mikel Arteta gave a fitness update on Christian Nørgaard following the game against Manchester United, an encounter he missed due to injury. The Gunners saw off the Red Devils in their season opener and even though it was not a vintage Arsenal display, the win was all that mattered as they started the campaign strongly.
Ahead of the game, there were several names missing, with Fabio Vieira, Jakub Kiwior, Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko all out of the matchday squad. These players have each been heavily linked with moves away and their absence did not come as a complete surprise. The omission of Nørgaard did raise eyebrows however and Mikel Arteta revealed the cause in his post-match press conference. The details of the injury remain unclear, but he gave an update nonetheless.
Arteta explains Nørgaard’s absence
Speaking to the media following the encounter, the Spaniard said: “He had a little issue the medical staff will address. He wasn’t able to play today.”
Nørgaard was brought in to compete for the defensive midfield role with Martin Zubimendi, which is why a potential long-term absence could be worrying. The pair were like-for-like replacements for Thomas Partey and Jorginho, who both left at the end of the previous campaign.
Arsenal’s wider injury situation
Due to how injuries derailed Arsenal’s campaign last term, Arteta will be hoping to keep a fit squad for large spells of this season. Aside from Christian Nørgaard, Gabriel Jesus is the only other major concern. The Brazilian has been sidelined with a serious knee injury since January. He is set to return before the end of the year, and it could be sooner rather than later given he is already back training on the grass.
Thoughts Gooners?
Benjamin Kenneth
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Mikel Arteta. Should stop subbing Kai Havetrz for Victor Gyokeres. He should think of subbing Kai Havetrz for Odegaard or Elsewhere not the top nine position. Victor Gyokeres should be playing at full 90 minutes. Please
Despite Norgaard’s injury, it’s good to read that Jesus is set to return by the end of the year. I guess the questions then are (1) will he score any goals when he does; and (2) how long before he’s injured again?
Here are more questions regarding Gabriel Jesus:
Will he suffer a setback while recovering?
How many seconds of training will be get before he gets injured?
Will he pull a muscle just tying his laces?
Will he make it to the warm-up, or is that asking too much?
How many games before his hamstring files for early retirement?
Will he get injured celebrating a goal? (If he scores one…)
Should the physio just get his own locker next to him?
Will his medical record weigh more than his trophy cabinet?
Will his comeback interview also feature his next injury update?
Will he get injured watching his own highlight reel from the physio table?
What are the chances he hurts himself while doing his “I’m back!” social media video?
Will the team’s medical staff need their own medical staff after dealing with him all season?
You’ve obviously looked into this.
For Arsenal not to pursue another midfielder, simply means we haven’t really learned from pass mistakes.
There may be more to it but it does kind of give you kind of an unwelcome deja vu feeling.
Dam hope it is t to serious else it will be another excuse making season about injuries.
That’s the reason you hope it’s not serious?
Cringe