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Martin Odegaard Arsenal injury latest - Return date, doctor update, spotted on crutches

Martin Odegaard has sparked fresh injury concerns for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)


Arsenal face a nervous wait over the severity of Martin Odegaard's injury. The Gunners captain limped off midway through the second-half of Norway's 2-1 win over Austria in the UEFA Nations League.

Despite a first win in the group phase, following their draw against Kazakhstan, the outing was overshadowed by a possible injury for the playmaker. Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori has already added to injury concerns during the international break after suffering a calf injury in their win away in France.

Declan Rice, who was on the scoresheet in the 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, will miss the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur following his controversial red card in the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, on the eve of the Nations League getting underway.

Injury to Odegaard poses a headache for Mikel Arteta with his midfield options already depleted and Sunday marking their return to the Premier League, the 25-year-old faces a race against time to be fit. As Arsenal look to challenge Manchester City at the summit of England's top-flight, the microscope will be cast to see how they can respond to the setback for their star man.

Spotted on crutches

Just 12 hours after picking up the injury, Odegaard has been pictured using crutches as he boarded a flight back home. Odegaard also wasn't seen wearing a shoe on his left foot, suggesting that the player did not want to damage it further by adding pressure to the area.

'A nasty one'

The incident occurred shortly after the 60th minute of Norway's second Nations League match. As Odegaard battled in the middle of the pitch, he went down under a challenge from Christoph Baumgartner.

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As they duelled for possession, the Arsenal man nipped in front of the Austrian but as the RB Leipzig forward fell to ground, he caused Odegaard to roll his ankle. Instantly, he waved to the bench for medical attention as he pulled his shirt over his face.

Arsenal staff 'immediately in contact'

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal medical staff wasted no time in seeing how the attacker was after the injury. Should the issue be as severe as first thought, the Gunners face the prospect of being without a key attacking cog for an important period of the campaign, especially with the Champions League set to get underway.

MRI date set

Norway manager Stale Solbakken couldn't dismiss the worry as the curtain falls on the first international break of the season. The enforced break looks set to be a costly one for Arsenal with Odegaard seemingly joining Calafiori on the treatment table.

"Martin Ødegaard’s injury looked bad in the dressing room as well," said the former Wolves head coach.

Norway's team doctor, Ole Sand, added: "He got a small ankle sprain. We will see, maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow."

Could miss Spurs, Man City and Liverpool

There will be anxious looks at the upcoming schedule for Arsenal, with the hope that they won't be without their captained for an extended period of time. Over the course of the next month, the Gunners travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and to Manchester City, as well as the visit of Liverpool in October.

Their Champions League campaign gets underway on Thursday away at Atalanta with their first home tie coming up against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1. November and December are equally testing months for the Gunners with Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester United pencilled in, plus more European outings against Inter Milan and Sporting CP.