Mikel Arteta gives Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko injury updates

Oleksandsr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard are missing for Arsenal today (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says there’s no timescale on the injuries sustained by Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko after the pair failed to make the Gunners’ squad for today’s clash with Brentford.

Zinchenko hasn’t trained for the last few days, while Odegaard was unable to participate on Saturday.

Both players are said to have calf injuries and Zinchenko is likely to pull out of Ukraine’s squad for the international break.

Odegaard was carrying a hamstring injury before the side’s defeat to Manchester United last time out but he managed to start at Old Trafford, while Zinchenko was also carrying a knock.

The pair were replaced by Pablo Vieira and Kieran Tierney for the trip to north-west London.

And Arteta says he’s unsure when the injured duo will return, with the Spaniard thankful of the upcoming international break.

Arteta was without key stars against Brentford (Picture: Getety)

‘Yeah they are both injured and not avaialbe for the game,’ Arteta told Sky Sports.

‘I don’t know [when they will return]. We have the international break right now so that will give us a break. They are two different injuries and things but we don’t know yet.’

The pair’s absence meant Arteta had to call on the side’s academy, with the Gunners naming an incredibly youthful bench.

The youngest member was Ethan Nwaneri, with the 15-year-old earning a place among the substitues.

Arteta says such opportunities are only possible when there are ‘issues’.

‘Yeah we have the opportunity to bring young players in. We have injuries in the last few weeks, we are short but opportunities come when other issues arise.’

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