The Norwegian team doctor, Ola Sand, has confirmed that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks due to an ankle injury.
Odegaard injured his left ankle during Monday’s Norway game. Following his limping off during Norway’s Nations League victory over Austria on Tuesday, the 25-year-old midfield player traveled back to London and had an MRI scan.
Sand, the team doctor for Norway, said to the Norwegian newspaper VG that these kinds of ankle injuries usually require at least three weeks. Anything beyond that is merely a bonus, and it might take longer. What we have so far obtained from the MRI examination in London is that there is probably no fracture in the ankle.
Arsenal is almost certain there is no breach, but this may still take some time. In the event of a fracture, we are talking about being out of action for six weeks plus.
Arsenal Captain Martin Odegaard set to miss key Premier League matches
Prior to Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham, Arsenal has announced that manager Mikel Arteta will give an update during his press conference on Friday.
Arsenal Captain Martin Odegaard would miss five games for Arsenal if he is sidelined for three weeks, which would include their Champions League away match against Atalanta on Thursday and their Premier League match against title rivals Manchester City on September 22. If it extends beyond that, the captain might miss the thrilling European clash against Paris Saint-Germain scheduled for October 1.
For Sunday’s north London derby, the Gunners will also be without two more midfield players due to suspensions: Declan Rice and summer signing Mikel Merino, who is out with a broken shoulder.
The next Nations League games for Norway are against Slovenia in Oslo on October 10 and Austria in Linz on October 11.
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