Several Arsenal players are out representing their countries during the ongoing international break while the rest continue to train under Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff.
The Spaniard will hope his players return unscathed, with important Premier League clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City on the horizon.
That doesn’t look likely to be the case, though, as Martin Odegaard limped off the pitch during Norway’s 2-1 UEFA Nations League win against Austria.
And now, the extent of the gifted midfielder’s injury woes have emerged and it could spell bad news for Arsenal fans ahead of the North London derby.
The 25-year-old was left grimacing in pain and covered his eyes in anguish after twisting his left ankle, after which he was substituted early in the second half.
Odegaard fought to latch onto a loose ball and was involved in a challenge with Austria midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, injuring his ankle in the process.
Former Norwegian football Bernt Hulsker was visibly shaken on live television, suggesting that it could spell bad news for Arsenal in the long run.
He said (quotes via Dagbladet.no): “What are we seeing? Is it a real injury? Are ties breaking here? I am not a doctor.
“He cries, he writhes. It’s bad news and horrible pictures. The worst that could happen. See the fear in Ståle’s eyes.”
TV 2‘s Jesper Mathisen described the challenge as a ‘terrible overstep,’ while NRK’s expert Kristoffer Løkberg added that Odegaard’s injury didn’t look good at the time of happening.
After the game, Norway’s media officer Morten Skjønsberg referred to the statements from team doctor Ola Sand, who suggested that the Arsenal captain would undergo an MRI scan in the coming hours to determine the full extent of his injury.
He said (quotes via nettsavisen.no): “Ankle-overstepping is difficult to bring at once, so we almost have to see how it goes forward.
“We’ll check on him when we get back to the hotel. Maybe we use ultrasound. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow.”
Norway teammate Leo Skiri Østigård said Odegaard didn’t look good after the challenge, which represents another grim injury verdict for the Gunners faithful.
How will Arsenal cope without Odegaard?
The extent of Odegaard’s injury remains unclear, but judging by his reaction after going down, the possibility of Arsenal playing the North London derby without their captain is starting to loom large over the Emirates Stadium.
The 25-year-old has been one of Arteta’s most consistent players since signing for the club for £30m in 2021 and is virtually impossible to replace.
Odegaard impressed for Norway against Kazhakstan but unfortunately picked up an injury ahead of what could be a defining few weeks for Arsenal.
With Declan Rice also set to miss out against Tottenham due to a suspension, Arteta will be left scratching his head at the possibility of facing Arsenal’s fiercest rivals without two of his midfield lynchpins.
