Arsenal fitness update as Odegaard dropped for Brighton game | OneFootball

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard was unexpectedly dropped to the bench for Saturday’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion as a fitness update was issued.

Mikel Arteta named a weakened lineup for the Premier League as his squad has been hit by injuries and illness.

Kai Havertz has been left out of the matchday squad for a second consecutive league game after being struck down by illness.

Arsenal boss Arteta confirmed before kickoff that Ødegaard has also been affected by illness, meaning the Norwegian is not fit enough to start, but travelled to Brighton anyway.

Arsenal fitness update as Odegaard dropped for Brighton game

Leandro Trossard and teenager Ethan Nwaneri were chosen to start either side of Gabriel Jesus, while Bukayo Saka remains out of action due to a hamstring injury.

Jurrien Timber is suspended for the match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 3-1 win over Brentford in midweek.

Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain sidelined by knee injuries, while Raheem Sterling has returned to training, but was not deemed fit enough to play this weekend.

Gabriel Martinelli was also named on the bench having started the previous four league matches in a row.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Jorginho, Merino; Nwaneri, Jesus, Trossard

Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Martinelli, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia

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