Erling Haaland slammed by Norway’s media after failing to fill the shoes of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard

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Arsenal aren’t the only squad missing Martin Odegaard, as the Norway national team are struggling without their captain.

Odegaard was injured on international duty during the September break, and he has been out of action for Arsenal ever since. 

The captain is nursing an ankle injury, which is expected to keep him away from the pitch until next month.

Mikel Arteta’s side are certainly missing the midfielder for his playmaking ability, a feeling the Norway national team are experiencing for a different reason. 

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Martin Odegaard missed as Norway captain as Erling Haaland is criticised

Stale Solbakken’s Norway side have had to make do without Odegaard’s brilliance in the final third, losing their captain to injury.

At just 25, Odegaard captains both Arsenal and his country, telling of his innate leadership skills that make him so important to both Solbakken and Arteta.

Despite him being out of action, the midfielder’s importance was made even clearer during the October international break, as Erling Haaland took the armband from his countryman.

After Norway’s brutal 5-1 defeat to Austria, the Manchester City star was blasted in the media for his failure to carry out sufficient captaincy duties. 

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Norwegian outlet VG expressed their dissatisfaction over Haaland’s actions, with expert Kristoffer Lokberg branding the situation ‘a shame’.

“It’s a shame. If there’s anyone we want to hear from after a violent slump, it’s the captain,” Lokberg said.

“How was it communicated out here? How do you think after the 3-1 goal? Do you gather? What do you do? When you are captain, you have been assigned a role that requires a little extra. Then you should stand up.”

Haaland was selected to take the responsibility from Odegaard in his absence, with the Man City ace proof that not everyone has the capacity to lead on the pitch.

Odegaard thrives as Arsenal captain

Odegaard certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed what he saw his national teammates produce on the pitch against Austria, with his side clearly missing the midfielder’s leadership. 

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Following Arsenal’s win over Luton Town in December 2023, Arteta praised the qualities that Odegaard possesses when wearing the armband. 

“His presence, the way he behaves himself in front of the group and the standards that he sets are outstanding,” an assessment opposing to that on Haaland during the October international break.

For Arsenal, and for Norway, the most important thing is that Odegaard returns to the pitch fit and ready to contribute soon, with both side’s seeing the importance of the midfielder in his absence.