Martin Odegaard’s Norway teammate was gunning for revenge after seeing the Arsenal star on the receiving end of a painful injury.
Norway were in action against Austria on Monday night with Odegaard forced off in the second-half. The Gunners star went over on his left ankle following a challenge from Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner and had to be helped from the pitch by Norway’s medical staff as he winced in pain.
Norway’s team doctor Ola Sand suggested post-match Odegaard had suffered a ‘small ankle sprain’. While he will undergo further scans today, the former Real Madrid star now seems certain to miss Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham.
Watching Odegaard limp off will have infuriated Mikel Arteta who will be without Declan Rice this weekend with Riccardo Calafiori another injured while on international duty.
But the midfielder’s Norway teammate Leo Skiri Ostigard was also incensed, admitting post-match he would have relished the chance to give Bautmarner some of his own treatment.
‘I think there were a lot of strange things there,’ NRK report. ‘I would have liked to have a duel against the guy who took “Ødda” out and show him what it’s like to get one back.’
Asked what would have happened if he did have the chance to fly into a challenge, Ostigard added: ‘I’m not going to say that here.’
On Odegaard’s condition, the Rennes defender sounded pessimistic but hopes his teammate can be fit soon for both club and country. ‘It wasn’t very good, it seemed. We really have to hope that it passes quickly and that he is back both for Arsenal and for us.’
Odegaard’s absence will effectively leave Arsenal without their first-choice midfield with Rice suspended and summer signing Mikel Merino sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in his first training session at the club.
With Calafiori also recovering from a knock and doubts over Gabriel Jesus’ availability after a recent groin issue, Arteta faces a major selection headache when naming a side on Sunday.
Norway manager Stole Solbakken joked he is not expecting a friendly chat with Arteta anytime soon after Odegaard’s issue.
‘Yes, it looked painful in the locker room too,’ the Norway boss told TV2. ‘I saw that he was sitting with the physiotherapists around him, but he had no chance to continue.
‘And we know that it was an ankle sprain. Yes, it’s a sprain, and 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 really sure that Arteta will call me tonight to praise me.’
