This morning, concerning news emerged that might jeopardize Martin Odegaard’s football career.
Ståle Solbakken, Norway’s national team coach, suggested that Odegaard may be dealing with an injury following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday.
As the Premier League takes a break for international fixtures, Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, will likely monitor his players’ performances during these matches closely.
Odegaard, who missed out on Euro 2024 due to Norway’s failure to qualify, was anticipated to play in the upcoming Nations League games against Kazakhstan and Austria. However, Solbakken’s recent comments have cast uncertainty over the Arsenal captain’s fitness after he seemed to suffer an injury in his last club match.
When asked if Odegaard’s injury was related to the Brighton match, Solbakken mentioned, “I think it’s another knock,” suggesting the player might have a different injury.
He added, “I think it’s something more than just the knock,” indicating that Odegaard might be facing a more serious issue.
It is unclear whether Odegaard will recover in time for Norway’s Nations League match against Kazakhstan on Friday. Arsenal fans are also worried about his availability for the critical North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Arteta is already dealing with midfield challenges. Declan Rice, a crucial player, was controversially sent off against Brighton and will be suspended for the upcoming Spurs match.
Additionally, Arsenal’s midfield options are limited after Fabio Vieira was loaned to Porto at the end of the summer transfer window.
If Odegaard’s injury keeps him out, Arteta will have only three senior midfielders available, and this number could decrease depending on the captain’s recovery.
While fans are keen to see veteran Jorginho in action, Thomas Partey has been a regular choice for Arteta and may need to take on additional responsibilities if Odegaard is unavailable.
In conclusion, the concerns over Odegaard’s injury, combined with Rice’s suspension, present a challenging situation for Arteta ahead of the crucial match against Tottenham, which could have a significant impact on Arsenal’s season.