Odegaard injury scare! ‘Worrying scenes’ as Arsenal captain limps out of Norway clash

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 10 Sept 2024 07:03 BST
• 3 min read

Martin Odegaard has given Arsenal another major injury headache before their North London derby clash with Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Having seen Riccardo Calafiori suffer an injury scare for Italy against France, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will have been watching events in Oslo unfold with a sense of trepidation as his captain limped out of Norway’s encounter with Austria midway through the second half.

Odegaard suffered an injury blow and limped out of the game to be replaced by Kristian Thorstvedt with the score balanced at 1-1.

Jan Aage Fjortoft reported: “Worrying scenes at Ullevaal Stadium. Seems that our captain Martin Odegaard twisted his ankle. Just had to leave the pitch unfortunately.”

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Arsenal injury crisis mounts

Arsenal already face significant problems in their midfield ahead of their clash against Spurs.

Declan Rice is suspended after he was sent-off against Brighton in a 1-1 draw prior to the international break while new signing Mikel Merino is laid up injured having not kicked a ball in anger for the Gunners since his move late in the summer transfer window from Real Sociedad.

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Calafiori, meanwhile, has left the Italy camp after suffering what appeared to be a thigh injury in a 3-1 success over France.

Despite the departure of the former Bologna centre-back, Italy boss Luciano Spalletti has suggested that the problem is not one that is serious, yet if he were to miss the weekend’s clash it would still represent a significant blow to an Arsenal squad that is looking increasingly threadbare.

Gunners legend Martin Keown, meanwhile, has outlined what Arteta’s side must do to cope with the mounting selection problems that are plaguing his team.