Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard could be out of action for several weeks as a result of the ankle injury that he sustained in Norway’s Nations League game against Austria on Monday, national team doctor Ola Sand said.
Odegaard suffered the unfortunate injury as he twisted his left ankle in the second half of Norway’s narrow 2-1 win over Austria. The 25-year-old midfielder was helped off the pitch by physios. He was later seen in crutches boarding the plane back to north London.
Speaking to the Norwegian newspaper VG, Norway team medic Ola Sand said:
“Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks. Anything other than that is just a bonus and then it can take longer.”
“Ankle injuries are very painful right away. With Martin, it was extremely painful. He became very worried,” he added.
However, Sand also confirmed that the MRI conducted by Arsenal revealed no fracture in Martin Odegaard’s ankle, which will be music to the Arsenal fans’ ears ahead of the restart of domestic football.
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard to miss North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur
Whatever the length of the injury may be, Martin Odeaard is more than certain to miss the upcoming North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The match will be crucial for fourth-placed Arsenal to lead an early charge towards the top of the Premier League table. However, the Gunners will have to do so without their captain, who will be forced to watch on from the stands.
In Odegaard’s absence, Mikel Arteta will be forced to tinker with his strongest XI side as he does not have a like-for-like change for the Norwegian midfielder, especially after the sale of Emile Smith Rowe.
Arteta’s hands will also be forced by the added absence of Declan Rice, who was sent off in the last match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Areta is likely to play Jorginho and Thomas Partey in a two-man pivot role while dropping either Leandro Trossard or Kai Havertz to the number ten position against Spurs on Sunday.
