Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard, is expected to be sidelined for approximately three weeks due to an ankle injury he picked up during his international duties, according to Norway’s team doctor.
The Gunners’ midfielder was seen clutching his left ankle on Monday night after a seemingly harmless collision with Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner around the 60th minute of their 2-1 Nations League victory in Oslo. He was subsequently assisted off the field in tears by team-mate Erling Haaland.
The 25-year-old has now returned to London for further evaluation by Arsenal’s medical team.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be missing Declan Rice for the north London clash against Tottenham on Sunday, following the midfielder’s red card in the draw against Brighton before the international break.
Summer recruit Riccardo Calafiori is also a potential absentee after he left the field during Italy’s Nations League match against France due to a calf injury. The defender has returned early to Arsenal to begin his recovery.
Although no official update on Odegaard was anticipated until Arteta addressed the media ahead of the Spurs fixture, Norway’s team doctor Ola Sand suggested that the former Real Madrid midfielder might require a few weeks of rehabilitation.
“Ankle injuries like these typically require a minimum of three weeks to heal. Anything less is fortunate, although the recovery period can extend further,” Sand shared with Norwegian newspaper VG.
“From the MRI scan conducted in London, it appears there isn’t a fracture in the ankle.
“Interpreting an MRI can be somewhat challenging when there’s a history of injury, but Arsenal is fairly confident there’s no break. However, this still might take some time to recover.
“If there were a fracture, the recovery would be at least six weeks or more.”
After Sunday’s derby, Arsenal will begin their Champions League journey with an away match against Atalanta, followed by a clash with title contenders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on 22 September.
In addition to being without Odegaard and anxiously awaiting news on Calafiori, new arrival Mikel Merino is out due to a shoulder fracture sustained during his initial training session.
However, striker Gabriel Jesus might soon be available again after recovering from a groin injury.
