Arsenal midfielder withdraws from international duty after injury scare
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard withdrew from the Norwegian team for his next friendly matches against Israel and New Zealand after undergoing a medial ligament injury in his left knee.
The 26-year-old midfielder won the problem during the first half of the first league 2-0 on Saturday victory against West Ham United in London Stadium.
He received treatment on the ground and tried to continue, but was replaced before the interval and replaced by Mikel Merino.
Norway confirmed on Sunday evening that Oodega will not appear in their October internationals, while the Gunners said that it would continue its rehabilitation to Sobha Realty Training Center during the break.
MCL’s injuries can go into gravity, from a light throat that only requires a few weeks of rest for a larger tear that could put a player away up to two months.
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“I just talked to him. He’s not positive,” said manager Mikel Arteta after the match.
“He has a splint. We will have to wait and see by doctors, but we didn’t have much luck with that either.
“We haven’t had it since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice, then this injury.
“We will have to wait and see the extent of this injury, and we will find solutions, but he is obviously our captain and is a player who gives us a completely different dimension with the things he can do, in particular by attacking.”
Odegaard was an important part of the Arsenal midfielder as they seek to take up a challenge on all fronts this season.
With a crucial series of upcoming lighting, including matches against Fulham, Atletico Madrid and Crystal Palace, Arteta will be impatient to have its captain available as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice is also a doubt for the next international matches of England after asking to be substituted due to a back problem.
“He is not doing well because he asked me to detach himself. He had pain in the back and had to detach himself. It is very unusual for Declan,” said Arteta.