Kai Havertz on what Martin Odegaard is doing behind the scenes at Arsenal despite his injury

Arsenal will look to build on the solid foundations they have laid this season when they play Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The Gunners are yet to lose in all competitions this season and have successfully navigated through a very difficult run of games following the international break.

Mikel Arteta’s men will now look to defeat a Foxes team that has drawn in three league games this season but is yet to win in the top flight.

Arsenal unfortunately have to cope without Martin Odegaard, who is currently on the bench after being injured on international duty earlier this month.

Arteta provided an update on his captain’s injury ahead of the Atalanta match, saying: “It’s something quite significant so we’ll be missing him for a while.”

Despite his injury, Odegaard continues to be active behind the scenes at Arsenal, with Kai Havertz calling him the Gunners’ “perfect captain”.

Photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Kai Havertz says Martin Odegaard talks to Arsenal players every day

Havertz, in an interview with Sky Sports, revealed that Odegaard comes to London Colney every day, attends meetings and talks to the players.

The German international also said that Odegaard talks a lot to the players and is “there for everyone” both on and off the pitch.

“I don’t know how long he’s injured, maybe two weeks, but he’s here every day, he’s in meetings every day and he’s talking to us,” Havertz said.

“I think he is the perfect captain for a team like us, where we have a lot of young players and players who can develop. It’s available to everyone, not just off the pitch.

“To be honest, before I came to Arsenal I didn’t think he would talk so much in the dressing room and stuff like that, but he talks a lot in the dressing room before the game and stuff like that.

– He’s also on the pitch when things don’t go your way. You need someone to strengthen you.

How long can Odegaard be sidelined?

While speaking on the ESPN UK YouTube channel, Craig Burley – who suffered a similar injury to Odegaard – suggested that the Arsenal captain could be sidelined for several months.

“Judging by what’s going on, about 3 weeks, 2-3 weeks are coming to an end,” he said last week. “Now it sounds like you know you can double it.

“In my experience, like most players, it is difficult to find a player who has been playing for over a decade who hasn’t sprained his legs.

“It’s hard to come back 2 or 3 weeks after something like that; sometimes it is a few months, sometimes longer.”