Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has delivered bad news after the extent of Martin Odegaard's injury came to light.
Odegaard is set to be missing for 'a while' after scans confirmed that the Gunners captain had suffered 'significant' damage to his ankle ligament.
The playmaker was forced off over the international break as Norway faced Austria in the Nations League.
It saw Odegaard miss the derby victory over Tottenham on Sunday while he was spotted on crutches.
Martin Odegaard suffered an injury on international break
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Arteta was reluctant to speak about his captain at the match before a full diagnosis had been taken.
But now the news has emerged that the former Real Madrid star has suffered a serious problem to his ankle.
Ahead of Arsenal's match against Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday, Arteta said: "After recent scans, the scans showed that he’s got some damage especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle.
"It’s something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while."
The Spaniard was pressed on a precise timescale over Odegaard's absence, to which Arteta could not definitively answer.
However, there was an inkling of hope as Arteta added: "Hopefully not months, but let's see.
"He’s our captain. He’s been one of the biggest and best players in our team.
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Martin Odegaard will be out injured for a while
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"Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It’s a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face."
Arsenal were without several key players against Tottenham including Odegaard, as well as Declan Rice and new signing Mikel Merino.
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The former Real Sociedad star suffered a fractured shoulder in his first training session with the club.
And with key fixtures like Manchester City coming, this could be a make-or-break moment in the season for the Gunners.