Club Announce Ødegaard Suffers MCL Injury
Arsenal have confirmed that Martin Ødegaard has pulled out from the national team for upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee in the win over their opponents on Saturday.
Ødegaard collapsed holding his knee after clashing with Crysencio Summerville in the first half at the Emirates and twice attempted to carry on after being treated before being eventually replaced by Martín Zubimendi. The manager said after the match that Ødegaard had left the ground with his knee in a brace and admitted his captain was “not positive about it.”
Although Declan Rice is expected to meet up with the national team in the coming days despite also being substituted against West Ham with a back problem, Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that Ødegaard had withdrawn from the Norway squad and it is understood they are optimistic that he will only be out for weeks rather than months. “Ødegaard will continue to be assessed and treated by our staff during the break, with the aim of a comeback as soon as possible,” the club said in a statement.
Ødegaard has experienced an unlucky beginning to the new campaign after dealing with a shoulder injury that forced him off against Leeds and Nottingham Forest. He will join Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke on the injury list, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is likely to come back from a groin injury after the international break.
