Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard sustained an ankle injury while on international duty with Norway, ruling him out of crucial upcoming fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. The midfielder was helped off the pitch and returned to London on crutches, sparking fears about the extent of his injury.
Norway’s team doctor, Ola Sand, revealed that an initial MRI scan showed no fractures in Odegaard’s ankle, but he could still face up to three weeks on the sidelines. “There is probably no fracture in the ankle, but such injuries often take at least three weeks,” Sand stated, adding that the timeline could be longer depending on Odegaard’s response to treatment.
This injury adds to Arsenal’s growing list of absentees ahead of critical matches. The Gunners will also be without Declan Rice, who is suspended for the North London derby against Spurs. Additionally, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all currently sidelined, posing a significant challenge for Arsenal in the upcoming fixtures against top rivals.
