September 20th 2024.
Pep Guardiola expressed his sympathies for one of Arsenal's star players, Martin Odegaard, who is set to be sidelined for a considerable amount of time due to an ankle injury. The Gunners' manager, Mikel Arteta, confirmed that the injury was severe and Odegaard is expected to be out of action for the next eight weeks.
While Arteta does have other options to replace the attacking midfielder, Arsenal has noticeably lacked creativity in the two matches he has missed so far - the North London derby and the Champions League match against Atalanta. Odegaard's absence will also be felt in important upcoming games, such as the "early title decider" against Manchester City this Sunday.
During his pre-match press conference, Guardiola expressed his disappointment that his team won't be able to face the "exceptional" player and captain of Arsenal. He went on to praise the Gunners' investment in their squad depth, which he believes will help them cope with injuries, suspensions, and other challenges throughout the season.
The injury to Odegaard also means that Raheem Sterling will make his full debut for Arsenal against his former team. The English forward, who had a successful stint at Manchester City under the guidance of Guardiola and Arteta, will now face them on the opposite side. Guardiola admitted that he was surprised by Sterling's loan move to Arsenal on deadline day but wished him the best of luck. He acknowledged Sterling's important contribution to Manchester City's success and said he would prefer if he didn't perform well against them on Sunday.
In the end, Guardiola reiterated his respect for Arsenal and their progress under Arteta, saying that they have improved significantly in recent years and have a strong squad depth. He also wished Odegaard a speedy recovery and expressed his excitement for the upcoming match between two top teams in the Premier League.
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