This weekend, Arsenal faces a crucial away fixture against Tottenham in the North London derby as part of the fourth round of the Premier League. However, the Gunners have been dealt a blow with the news that their captain, Martin Ødegaard, is dealing with an injury.
Earlier today, on September 10, Norway’s national team triumphed 2-1 over Austria in their second Nations League match, thanks to goals from Myhre and Erling Haaland. Unfortunately, the celebration was marred by an injury to Ødegaard, who had to leave the field in the 67th minute.
Ødegaard suffered an ankle injury during a contested play. The medical team quickly attended to him, but after some treatment, he was unable to continue and had to be helped off the pitch, visibly upset.
Post-match, Norway’s coach Ola Solbakken reported, “The situation with Martin Ødegaard doesn’t look promising in the locker room.” The medical staff added, “Ødegaard has sustained a sprained ankle. We’ll consider using an ultrasound to assess the injury, and an MRI might be conducted tomorrow for a more detailed evaluation.”
This injury comes as a significant concern for Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta and the club’s supporters anxiously preparing for the derby against Tottenham this weekend, where they will be the visitors. Arsenal already faced the challenge of missing six other key players for this fixture.
Ødegaard is a pivotal figure for Arsenal, serving as captain and starting every Premier League match this season. He played the full 90 minutes in the first two games, leading Arsenal to victories over Wolves and Aston Villa. In their third match against Brighton, he played 73 minutes before Arsenal had to settle for a draw.
Since joining Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2021, Ødegaard has established himself as a central player, with 35 goals and 25 assists in 156 appearances. Last season, he delivered a standout performance with 11 goals and 11 assists, though Arsenal fell just short of the title, finishing second to Manchester City by a narrow two-point margin.