Arsenal Captain Martin Odegaard Withdraws From Norway Squad After Knee Injury

Arsenal have been dealt another setback as captain Martin Odegaard has been ruled out of Norway’s upcoming international fixtures after picking up a knee injury in the Premier League clash with West Ham.

Martin Odegaard, 26, sustained damage to his medial collateral ligament following a collision with Crysencio Summerville during Saturday’s game. He will now miss Norway’s World Cup qualifier against Israel on October 11 and the friendly against New Zealand three days later.

Instead of joining up with his national teammates, Odegaard will remain in London for further tests and treatment, with Arsenal yet to put a timeline on his return.

Manager Mikel Arteta admitted the news was worrying after watching his skipper forced off after just half an hour. “I just spoke to him. He’s not positive about it. He’s got a brace on. We’ll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven’t been fortunate with that either,” Arteta told reporters.

The Spaniard expressed his frustration at the midfielder’s string of injuries this season. The coach said, “We haven’t had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder was injured twice, and then this injury occurred.

“We’ll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we’ll find solutions, but obviously he’s our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking.”

Adding to the concern, Odegaard also set an unwanted Premier League record at the weekend, becoming the first player ever to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive starts.

Meanwhile, teammate Declan Rice, who also picked up a knock against West Ham, will join up with the England squad as planned.

Source: Naijanews