Stale Solbakken reveals that Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard is still some way away from making a return after leaving him out of the upcoming Norway squad.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is still some way off making a return to the pitch, according to his national team manager Stale Solbakken.
It was on Norway duty where Odegaard picked up the ankle injury that has since kept him out of Arsenal’s last five matches.
Odegaard twisted his ankle awkwardly following a challenge from Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner in their UEFA Nations League clash last month, forcing the midfielder to hobble off.
The captain will not be available once again when the Gunners welcome Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates this evening, and comments from the Norway manager will not be met with any sort of joy from the Arsenal faithful
Solbakken provides Odegaard injury update
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With another international window on the horizon after the upcoming weekend’s action, the Norway boss has been speaking after announcing his squad for the games against Slovenia and Austria.
Odegaard is not among the 23 players that will be at Solbakken’s disposal, and he provided the bad news in the subsequent press conference after his squad was released.
Solbakken told reporters: “He is far from being in the squad, we will have to see how far he gets during this international break. It is possible that he will come, but it depends a little on his rehabilitation. I have not spoken to him in the past four or five days.”
The ligament damage suffered by Odegaard is evidently slightly more serious than first feared, as a return in mid-October had been pencilled in by the medical team at Arsenal.
Arteta handed Odegaard injury setback
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had his skipper available for just three games of the new season before seeing him limp off on international duty.
Odegaard is not the only player Arsenal have had to do without either, as Mikel Merino remains sidelined with a shoulder problem, and Declan Rice served a suspension at the start of the month following his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Gunners have continued to impress despite losing such an influential player though, as they won away at local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, and at home to Leicester City at the weekend.
Above all, the most notable performance was at the Etihad, as Arsenal came within seconds of snatching all three points with 10 men away to Premier League holders Manchester City two weeks ago.
Arsenal face Southampton after the visit of PSG in the Champions League this week, before hoping they can welcome Odegaard back when they go to Bournemouth on October 19.