Ciao Champions League, buon giovedì from Bergamo

Ahead of Atlanta vs Arsenal, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta reveals significant injury news

Ciao, Buon Giovedì from Bergamo,

Or it would have been here in northern Italy until Mikel Arteta revealed that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard had picked up a “significant’ ligament injury when on Norway duty.

Covering Arteta’s pre-match conference at the revamped Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia (you might know it as the Gewiss Stadium, or as UEFA prefer to call it Stadio Atalanta, or even Stadio Bergamo, depending on where you get your Champions League information from) the Gunners manager sadly admitted the talismanic Odeggard would be missing.

The Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. Or the Gewiss Stadium, or as UEFA prefer to call it Stadio Atalanta, or even Stadio Bergamo. Take your pick. CREDIT:

Layth (@laythy29)

Statues on the neo-classical facade of the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. CREDIT:

Layth (@laythy29)

“After everything was scanned,” Arteta told assembled hacks including myself on Tuesday evening, “they showed that there was some damage, especially in one of the ligaments in the ankle so we’re going to miss him.

“I don’t want to [put a timeframe on it] because I am not a doctor but it is something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while – hopefully not months but let’s see.”

Such a blow was galling as the news sunk in.

However, a bullish Arteta attempted to put some positivity on the blow, by insisting such a challenge was also an opportunity for others.

Asked if he was confident he has the players to fill in for Odegaard while the captain is absent, Arteta said: “Yes but we have to show that. He’s our captain - he’s one of our biggest players.

“He’s been one of the most consistent players in the last two or three seasons. Our identity is very related to his way of playing and his way of behaving.

“We’re going to have to deal with [his absence] and that’s a great test for the team as well - how capable we are to show maybe a different face.

“The fact [is] we have other players and other options that can be very effective.”

Here in beautiful Bergamo, we’ll find out soon enough later tonight.

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My Morning Star newspaper piece from Bergamo.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed Martin Odegaard has suffered a "quite significant" ankle ligament injury, writes Layth Yousif in Bergamo.

Speaking in Italy, at Atalanta's Gewiss Stadium, ahead of the Gunners Champions League clash on Thursday evening in Bergamo, Arteta admitted his captain could be missing for a "while."

The talented 25-year-old midfielder limped off during Norway's Nations League win over Austria on Monday, September 9.

Speaking on Wednesday evening a disappointed Arteta said: "It's something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while.

"Hopefully not months."

Odegaard had gone down in pain during international duty for Norward after a foul by Christoph Baumgartner hurt his left ankle, midway through the second half 

The creative midfielder with a fierce work rate returned to Arsenal for an MRI scan, subsequently missing his side's stirring 1-0 victory at Spurs in the north London derby last Sunday.

Arteta added: "The scan showed some damage around the ligaments in the ankle so we are going to miss him." 

Odegaard's injury means the 25-year-old will miss the Gunners opening Champions League clash this week, as well as the Premier League visit to leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

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Letter From Bergamo

Here’s the link to read my pre-match colour feature for the Irish Examiner newspaper from here in Bergamo. Hope you enjoy it.

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Bergamo travels

Regular readers will know that when I’m really busy on a football trip, I try and post (pad) my daily newsletters out with interesting* (*checks notes: vaguely interesting) pictures from tweets I posted that are relevant* (*checks notes: not relevant at all) to the trip.

So, here’s a few that I took yesterday, during my leisurely stroll* (*checks notes: not leisurely stroll, sweaty breathless hike uphill).

See you at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. Or the Gewiss Stadium. Or Stadio Atalanta. Or Stadio Bergamo.

Come on you Gunners.