Arsenal have been dealt a major injury scare ahead of Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur after captain Martin Ødegaard was helped off the pitch in tears during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Austria.
The 25-year-old midfielder is now a serious doubt for the crucial clash, leaving Arsenal without their influential leader in what is already shaping up to be a difficult fixture.
Worrying scenes at Ullevaal Stadium. Seems that our captain Martin Ødegaard twisted his ankle. Just had to leave the pitch unfortunately … pic.twitter.com/JEPoT0KUi8
— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) September 9, 2024
Ødegaard sustained the injury following an innocuous tangle with Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner in the 65th minute, falling awkwardly and immediately clutching his left ankle in pain.
He was quickly attended to by the medical staff and, despite attempts to walk off the injury, had to be helped off the pitch by his Norwegian teammate Erling Haaland.
Visibly emotional, Ødegaard appeared in tears as he was escorted off, raising fears over the severity of the injury.
Arsenal face further absences
Norwegian team doctor Ola Sand spoke to TV2 about Ødegaard’s condition, confirming that the initial diagnosis was an ankle sprain. “He got a small ankle sprain. We will see, maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow,” Sand said, offering hope that the injury might not be as serious as initially feared.
“It didn’t look good in the dressing room,” said Norway’s national coach Stale Solbakken. “It’s a sprain and not so bad if no ligaments are torn,” added Sand later.
Ødegaard was then spotted using crutches as he boarded a private jet.
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The injury to Ødegaard comes at a critical time for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal are already set to be without the suspended Declan Rice for Sunday’s clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, following his red card in the 1-1 draw against Brighton.
Ødegaard’s absence would leave a significant void in Arsenal’s midfield, both in terms of creativity and leadership, as the team prepares for one of the season’s most important fixtures.
Ødegaard’s crucial role for Arsenal
Since joining Arsenal, Ødegaard has established himself as one of the most important players under Arteta, quickly earning the captain’s armband and becoming the focal point of the team’s attacking play. His vision, technical ability, and leadership have been key to Arsenal’s recent success, and his absence against Spurs would be a huge blow.
This season, Ødegaard has continued his fine form, helping Arsenal maintain their challenge at the top of the Premier League. His influence on and off the pitch has made him an indispensable figure for the Gunners, and fans will be anxiously awaiting further updates on the severity of the injury.
Norway secure win but Arsenal left waiting
Despite Ødegaard’s injury, Norway managed to secure a 2-1 win over Austria, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal in the 80th minute. However, for Arsenal, the focus now turns to their captain’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s north London derby.
If Ødegaard is unable to recover in time, Mikel Arteta will need to adjust his plans for the midfield, with Declan Rice already ruled out due to suspension.
Arsenal fans will be hoping for positive news in the coming days, as they prepare for one of the most high-stakes games of the season without their key players.