Why Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino are not playing for Arsenal against Wolves

Evening Standard

·25 Januari 2025

Why Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino are not playing for Arsenal against Wolves

Gunners without influential captain for must-win game in the title race at Molineux on Saturday

Martin Odegaard misses out for Arsenal against Wolves due to illness, while Mikel Merino is also absent through injury.

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The second-place Gunners face a must-win game in the Premier League title race at Molineux on Saturday afternoon without their influential captain, who is joined on the sidelines by his midfield colleague.

Arsenal fans were stunned to see Odegaard missing from the teamsheet against Wolves, with no previous indication given that he was considered a doubt for the game.

However, manager Mikel Arteta has now explained that the Norwegian international did make the trip to the West Midlands as planned this weekend, only to be sent home on Saturday morning due to a bout of unspecified illness that left him in no condition to play.

Merino, meanwhile, was also ruled out late having been unable to train with the rest of the Arsenal squad on Friday due to a knock.

“Martin was ill this morning and we had to send him back - he was nowhere near fit to play,” Arteta told broadcasters before kick-off at Molineux.

“Mikel as well, because he got a knock and couldn’t make it yesterday for training.”

With Odegaard not involved, centre-back Gabriel takes on captaincy duties for Arsenal against Wolves, while fit-again teenager Ethan Nwaneri comes into the team as one of five changes to the starting lineup from Wednesday night’s 3-0 home victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

Thomas Partey also returns in midfield as Jorginho drops to the bench, while William Saliba is back from a hamstring injury in place of Jakub Kiwior in a major defensive boost with Myles Lewis-Skelly also fit to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back. Raheem Sterling makes way for Leandro Trossard in attack.

Saturday’s game comes too soon for Ben White, who is close to a return following knee surgery, while long-term absentees Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus remain sidelined along with Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Arsenal’s bench at Wolves features two goalkeepers in Bournemouth loanee Neto and teenager Jack Porter, plus four left-backs in Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Kiwior and Kieran Tierney.