This international break definitely has not been friendly on Arsenal. Just days after new-signing Ricardo Calafiori was seen limping off the pitch after a collision with France’s Ousmane Dembele, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard is now a victim to a nasty ankle injury.
Odegaard captained Norway in their National League encounter with Austria.
Martin Odegaard injury blow
But he was in excruciating pain, shortly after the hour mark, after rolling his left ankle during what appeared to be a harmless 50-50 struggle for possession.
The 25-year-old midfielder immediately went down clutching his joint and writhing around in agony as replays revealed the severity of the seemingly harmless clash with Christoph Baumgartner.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken acknowledged it appeared “painful”, when quizzed on the extent of the injury, after the game.
He said, as quoted by The Sun,
“It looked painful, in the locker room, too.
“He was sitting with the physios and had no chance to continue. We know it was an ankle sprain.
“And, as those of us who have played football know, with luck it can turn out OK, if the ligaments aren’t torn.
“But I’m not sure Mikel Arteta will call me tonight to praise me.”
The Gunners captain was seen on crutches after the game, reflecting the severity of the injury.
Arsenal will take on local rivals, Tottenham this weekend, and they face the risk of being without their Odegaard, Calafiori and will also be without midfielder Declan Rice, following his red card against Brighton.
