Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is expected to miss key Premier League matches against Tottenham and Manchester City, as well as the beginning of the Champions League, due to an ankle injury.
Norway’s national team doctor provided this update following an MRI scan.
Odegaard sustained the injury during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Austria in Oslo on Monday, after a challenge from Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner.
National team doctor Ola Sand informed VG newspaper, “This type of ankle injury usually requires at least three weeks to heal.
Anything less is a bonus, and it may take longer.”
Arsenal, who finished as Premier League runners-up last season, face Tottenham in the north London derby this Sunday, followed by their Champions League opener against Atalanta next week.
They will also play Manchester City on September 22 and have a high-profile European fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.
Norway’s upcoming Nations League fixtures are against Slovenia on October 10 in Oslo and Austria on October 13 in Linz.
Sand noted, “Both Staale Solbakken (the coach) and I are aware of the delicate nature of this situation.
While it’s not impossible that he could participate in Norway’s next matches, we must wait for the MRI results and assess his response to treatment.”
He also mentioned that while the MRI images are still being analyzed, there is no suspicion of a fracture.
