'I need to listen to my body' - Martin Odegaard sends Arsenal injury update after new setback

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has confirmed that he will not be travelling with the Norway squad during the international break, explaining the need to "complete" his rehab following an injury lay-off.

Odegaard has missed the majority of the season so far with an ankle injury he suffered during the September round of international fixtures.

The 25-year-old made his long-awaited return from the injury as a late substitute in Arsenal's defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League last week, before being handed his first start in the Premier League draw with Chelsea at the weekend where he played the full 90 minutes.

Odegaard missed 12 matches for Arsenal during his time on the sidelines and was initially expected to be part of the Norway squad for their Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan this month.

However, it has been confirmed that Odegaard will not join up with the Norway squad and will instead remain in North London to work on his fitness after only recently returning from injury.

Norway club doctor Ola Sand explained that it was a "complicated" injury that Odegaard has been forced to recover from, which has been cited as a reason behind the decision for the midfielder not to link up with his international teammates.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has already failed in title ambition but Arsenal aren't out of the race yet

READ MORE: Mikel Merino sends Arsenal title race message amid Martin Odegaard boost hope

Odegaard has explained why he has decided not to be part of the Norway squad, sending an update to Arsenal ahead of the busy run of fixtures that await the Gunners after the international break.

"After discussions with the medical [staff] at the national team, we have unfortunately concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches," Odegaard is quoted telling the Norwegian FA.

"I've been through a long training period and when you haven't practised football in the last nine weeks, it's natural not to be 100 percent yet.

"I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape. The hope has always been to be able to play the national matches, and if I hadn't played the match [versus Chelsea] on Sunday, it would have been out of the question to participate anyway.

"It's a very bad feeling to lose these games, I love playing for Norway and with this team. But I have great faith in the boys and wish them the best of luck - there are still good opportunities to win the group."