Arsenal star Martin Odegaard will be out for at least three weeks
Arsenal have been dealt a heavy blow as Martin Odegaard will have to be out for at least three weeks, according to the Norwegian national team doctor.
The Gunners captain limped off the pitch midway through the second half during Norway's 2-1 win over Austria on Monday night after being tackled badly by Christoph Baumgartner.
The Norwegian manager admitted after the match that Odegaard had suffered a “serious” ankle injury, while national team doctor Ola Sand confirmed the attacking midfielder would undergo an MRI scan to reveal the full extent of the damage.
Odegaard was Photographed on crutches as he boarded a private jet on Tuesday when he flew back to the UK to be further assessed by Arsenal's medical team.
Norway's national team doctor has given a fresh update after confirming that Odegaard is expected to be out for a “minimum” of three weeks. Sand warned that the injury could take even longer to heal and admitted that the Arsenal star is already a doubt for international matches in October.
The doctor also revealed that Odegaard was “very worried” about the injury and was in “extreme pain” but they are confident there is no fracture in the ankle or foot.
Minimum 3 weeks
Norwegian journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft quoted Sand as saying:
“Injuries like this require a minimum of three weeks. Everything else is a bonus. And it can take longer. Both Ståle (the national coach) and I know that for the next domestic matches (on October 10) it will be a doubt.
They are now looking at the MRI. There is probably no fracture in his foot. Ankle injuries are very painful straight away. Martin was in extreme pain. He was very worried.”
This news will be a blow for Arsenal, who face a very important run of matches. If Odegaard is out for three weeks, he will miss Sunday's game against Chelsea. Tottenhamthe trip to Atalanta in the Champions Leaguenext weekend's big title clash with City of man at the Etihad Stadium, the League Cup clash against Bolton and Leicester City's visit to the Emirates at the end of the month.
If the injury takes longer to heal, Odegaard will also miss the Champions League match against PSG and Premier League clash with Southampton before the October international break begins.
This is the latest Mikel Arteta The Gunners boss will be without new signing Mikel Merino for the next 6-8 weeks after he fractured his shoulder in his first training session. Riccardo Calafiori also returned home early from international duty after picking up a knock while playing for Italy.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is on the sidelines while Gabriel Jesus He has missed the last two games with a groin injury, so Arsenal already have a number of injury problems to deal with this early in the season.
