Odegaard on his injury and Shakhtar test

Before every game at Arsenal Stadium, Martin Odegaard lifts the lid on the mood in the camp via his captain’s notes published in the matchday programme.

Ahead of this evening’s meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk, he provides an update on his injury, watching us on the TV and a big game against Shakhtar. Here’s a snippet:

I’ve been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks, and missing out on big Champions League nights like this just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible.

I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now.

I’ve been doing a lot of work in the gym, and was on an anti-gravity treadmill recently, which is really good because it takes the weight off. Especially at the beginning that was really good, to be running again like that when you’ve been offloading the leg and not using it as much as normal. That was a good feeling, helping me get back to moving in a normal way, and being able to run after not being able to do that.

From my point of view it’s a different perspective watching our games on TV, and I think I can learn a lot from that as well. It’s easier to see the movements of every player, things like that, so I think I’ve been learning a lot from that both in the sense of watching my teammates but also seeing what other teams are doing. It gives you ideas of what you can do better, and it helps me see my teammates better too.

It can be a good way to see small details and things you wouldn’t normally pick up on the pitch, but saying that it’s very frustrating too not being involved.

For Saliba’s red card for example, my first feeling was that a yellow card would be enough, and it was the same for the referee. He had a clear view on it, so I thought it was strange that VAR should then change his decision. It’s done now though, so we have to move on and look at the next game.

And it’s a big game for us to focus on, back in the Champions League. Shakhtar are a side with lots of experience in this competition, in fact I remember playing against them for Real Madrid a few years ago, so they know what this competition is all about.

See the team in action at Arsenal Stadium tonight. Final tickets remaining, available to Arsenal Silver and Red Members via Ticket Exchange.

Read the rest of Martin’s notes, as well as a host of other fantastic content, by buying the Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk programme either around the stadium or online – or get a subscription to receive every edition through your door.