Home National News Odegaard still weeks away from return, says Arteta

Odegaard still weeks away from return, says Arteta

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Mikel Arteta

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has shown confidence in reserve goalkeeper Iñaki Peña to take over for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen.

He emphasized that the club should also consider whether to sign a replacement.

Ter Stegen sustained a ruptured knee tendon during the match against Villarreal on Sunday and is anticipated to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.

“I think it will be a matter of weeks, but how long exactly I cannot tell,” the Spaniard told reporters.

“We might get a surprise but I think it’s unlikely he’ll be back before the international break.”

The next international window runs from Oct. 7-16 with Arsenal hosting Leicester City and Southampton in the Premier League either side of welcoming Paris St Germain in the Champions League before then.

Arsenal are quickly back in action in their League Cup third-round tie with Bolton after Sunday’s gripping 2-2 draw at Manchester City in which they hung on with 10 men for the entire second half but conceded a last-gasp equaliser.

Several Arsenal players required treatment on the pitch in the second half with some accusing them of delaying tactics.

“I always prefer the facts to words than supposing things,” Arteta said. “Let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts. Unfortunately, there will be a few players not available. Tomorrow you will find out.”

The visit of third-tier Bolton will be an opportunity for some of Arsenal’s fringe players to get some playing time with new signing Raheem Sterling likely to start.

“He had a few minutes already. He played in a few games and Wednesday he has another opportunity,” Arteta said of the former Manchester City winger who joined from Chelsea last month.

“He is hungry to have more minutes and to impact the team in the way he can.”

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