Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has suffered an ankle injury ahead of the North London Derby.
The Gunners take on Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday in what is one of the biggest games of their season. Then, they face Atalanta in the Champions League before going to the Etihad for a clash against Manchester City.
The last thing Mikel Arteta needed was injuries during this international break, but his worst fears have now come true.
Odegaard has hurt his ankle, and he is now a doubt for the derby.
Norway doctor shares update on Martin Odegaard’s injury
Odegaard started for Norway against Austria on Monday, just days after playing the full 90 minutes against Kazakhstan.
That, in itself, was a worrying sign as it was revealed before those two games that Odegaard was carrying a couple of injuries.
However, Norway boss Stale Solbakken ignored all the risks involved and decided to start the Arsenal captain again on Monday night.
That decision backfired, and Odegaard, after suffering what looked like a nasty ankle injury, left the pitch in serious pain.
Reacting to the news after the game, Norway manager Solbakken revealed on TV2: “Martin Odegaard’s injury looked bad in the dressing room as well.
“I saw that he was sitting with the physios around him. He had no chance of continuing. It was probably an overstep, and those who have played football know that it can go well if the ligaments have not gone. It is not certain that (Mikel) Arteta will call and praise me tonight”
Norway’s national team doctor, Ola Sand, added: “Martin is doing quite well now. He got a small ankle sprain. We will see throughout the evening and tomorrow what happens next and what we will do about it.
“It is currently difficult to say anything about the extent of the damage. Ankle sprains are difficult to deal with straight away, so we almost have to see how things go forward.
“We will examine him when we are back at the hotel. Maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow (Tuesday).”
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has surprise weapon for Arsenal vs Tottenham clash if Martin Odegaard is ruled out
Odegaard’s injury could cost Arsenal the Premier League title
Arteta made the bold decision of letting both Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe leave Arsenal.
The two attacking midfielders were the only natural replacements for Odegaard available at the club, but they are both gone.
Now, ahead of what could be the most important two weeks of the season, there is a big chance Arsenal will be without their captain, and that is a massive blow.
Odegaard is one of the Gunners’ most important players, and if his absence leads to dropped points against Tottenham and Manchester City, Arsenal’s title hopes could be over before September ends.
Hopefully, it’s nothing serious and Odegaard will be able to play a part in the North London Derby on Sunday.
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