Pep Guardiola says he feels ‘so sorry’ for Arsenal star ahead of Manchester City clash

Pep Guardiola admits helium feels ‘so sorry’ for Martin Odegaard with the Arsenal skipper acceptable for a lengthy spell connected the sidelines.

Mikel Arteta confirmed earlier this week that his skipper’s ankle wounded was ‘significant’ and it is reported that helium volition beryllium successful the attraction country for the adjacent 8 weeks.

While Arteta does person options to regenerate the attacking midfielder, Arsenal did look abbreviated of creativity successful the 2 matches helium has missed truthful far, namely the northbound London derby triumph and the 0-0 gully astatine Atalanta successful the Champions League.

Odegaard volition beryllium absent for a fig of large games including Sunday’s ‘early rubric decider’ astatine Manchester City, and their manager Guardiola says helium is gutted his broadside won’t beryllium capable to instrumentality connected the ‘exceptional’ player.

‘I americium truthful atrocious for him. Always I similar to play against the biggest and toughest squad,’ helium said successful Friday’s pre-match property conference.

‘Odegaard is the skipper of Arsenal and everybody knows he’s an important and exceptional player.

‘Of course, he’s an important player, but twelvemonth by twelvemonth Arsenal get amended due to the fact that they put a batch successful the extent of squad. To person much players successful a long, agelong play with wounded problems, suspensions, atrocious signifier oregon whatever.

‘Always the extent of squad helps you.’

While Odegaard is out, Raheem Sterling marque his afloat Arsenal debut against the broadside with whom helium enjoyed truthful overmuch success.

The England guardant worked intimately with Guardiola and Arteta astatine the Etihad, helping the Citizens triumph 4 Premier League titles, an FA Cup and 5 League Cups betwixt 2015 and 2022.

His indebtedness determination to the Emirates from Chelsea connected deadline time stunned galore including Guardiola, who added: ‘I heard Mikel accidental helium was amazed arsenic good and didn’t expect to prosecute him.

‘I privation him each the best. I’ve said galore times, each the players that behaved unbelievably successful this club, helped america to beryllium who we are, wherever we are.

‘We cannot recognize the archetypal years successful my tenure astatine Man City without Raheem. He has been truthful important. I privation him each the best.

‘Of course, I would similar helium doesn’t execute good connected Sunday!’

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