Arsenal receive Martin Odegaard injury update after international scare | OneFootball

Martin Odegaard Injury Latest as Norway and Arsenal Stay in Constant Contact

Martin Odegaard remains a doubt for Norway’s meeting with Wales after missing training on Tuesday with an ankle injury, and Arsenal are being kept fully informed.

The midfielder picked up the problem late in Norway’s game against Portugal on Sunday after a challenge from Bernardo Silva. Odegaard was clearly unhappy, both at the time and afterwards, describing the tackle in blunt terms. He said it “doesn’t belong on a football field”. He then left the stadium limping, hardly the sight Arsenal wanted during the international break.

Odegaard Injury Puts Focus on Wales Clash

For now, there is no final call on his availability. Norway face Wales on Thursday before a return fixture against Portugal in Porto on Sunday, and Odegaard’s involvement in either game is uncertain. What is clear is that the ankle remains painful enough to keep him out of full training.

Norway manager Stale Solbakken made it plain that communication with Arsenal is constant. “The medical sector reports what has happened, and now it is the case that every metre you run here, and all training and everything you have done, is sent to the club,” Solbakken said. He added, “The medical contact is almost continuous. It’s standard procedure. I don’t interfere with that. There are four or five people for that, so they have to manage that.”

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Norway Medical Staff Monitor Recovery

That tells you everything. Clubs do not leave these things to chance, particularly with a player as central as Odegaard. Norway’s staff are monitoring the situation daily, and Tuesday brought at least a little encouragement.

Assistant coach Brede Hangeland said: “Martin was in the breakfast room, he was happy and he had less pain in his ankle than yesterday. It’s a long time until the next game, it’s a full two and a half days. A lot can happen in that time. Martin will be allowed to do what he wants in training today with regard to his ankle, and I’m glad it’s much better than yesterday.”

Arsenal Injury Concerns Mount During Break

From Arsenal’s point of view, this is another problem in a break that has already delivered enough aggravation. Kai Havertz has already returned early with a hamstring issue, while Ezri Konsa also missed England training with what was described as a minor problem.

So Arsenal wait, Norway assess, and Odegaard’s ankle becomes the latest reminder that international football always carries a cost.