Norway boss Stale Solbakken has admitted he is ‘worried’ about the injury for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard with the midfielder a doubt for their final Euro 2024 qualifier.
A trip to Scotland awaits Norway on November 19 following a friendly between Lovene and the Faroe Islands. Solbakken fears being without Odegaard for either fixture having boasted his services for all 30 fixtures in charge of Norway. He is the only player to have a 100% tally.
Odegaard last missed a fixture for Norway in November 2020 before assuming the captain’s armband for Solbakken’s debut in charge. The 24-year-old has further started 49 of his 55 career caps for three goals and 10 assists. But his involvement this month is ‘very doubtful’.
Norway boss Solbakken fears Arsenal captain Odegaard’s injury
Solbakken fears Odegaard will miss Norway’s fixtures with the Faroe Island and Scotland due to the Arsenal captain’s hip injury. Mikel Arteta has admitted the Drammen native is a doubt for the Gunners’ Champions League tie with Sevilla this week having yet overcome the blow.
Odegaard missed Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United due to the problem last weekend. He suffered the issue during the Gunners’ 2-1 win at Sevilla in October and sat out their 5-0 win over Sheffield United. He briefly returned at West Ham in the Carabao Cup.
“We are worried about Martin because he is very doubtful for the matches,” Solbakken told Nettavisen after naming Odegaard in his team. “He has an injury that doesn’t seem to let go.
“We’ll have to see what happens this week. He will undergo tests, so we will see what the week brings and how troubled he is. If he doesn’t play, then it’s historic. He is the only one who has played all the games for me.”
Arteta will not want to see Solbakken risk Odegaard playing
Solbakken has named Odegaard in Norway’s squad for their November internationals but is uncertain whether or not the Arsenal maestro’s injury will stop him from accepting the call-up. The playmaker facing Sevilla this Wednesday would go a long way to ease any concerns.
Gunners boss Arteta will not want to risk Odegaard aggravating the issue in the Champions League or at home to Burnley on Saturday, though. He will also fear Odegaard representing Norway and aggravating the issue. Especially when the fixtures carry no direct importance.
Norway cannot qualify for Euro 2024 via Group A as Spain and Scotland have already sealed the top two spots. Instead, Lovene’s hopes hinge on progressing via the play-offs, which use performances in the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League to determine the 12 participating teams.
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