Martin Odegaard has been left out of Norway’s squad for the upcoming international break, in mixed news for Arsenal fans ahead of the League Cup final.
Norway have announced their squad for the upcoming international break, with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard not included.
Odegaard is also Norway’s captain when fit, so he’s usually one of the first names on the list of call-ups. But in light of his recent injury, the decision has been taken to leave him out.
Norway play a couple of friendlies over the break, having already qualified for the World Cup this summer.
The positive outlook on this news is that it means Odegaard will be able to rest for a couple of weeks ahead of an intense run-in with Arsenal in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.
The obvious negative is that it suggests Norway still aren’t convinced that Odegaard is fully fit, with Arsenal now just four days away from the League Cup final.
Mikel Arteta had suggested this week that Odegaard is in contention for the final, but he added that their decision would depend on the player’s return to full training over the coming days.
Hopefully, Norway have simply decided that even if Odegaard is fit to play the final, it’s better not to overwork him so soon after his comeback. But a more pessimistic take on his international exclusion would be that he’s just still not fit.
Norway would certainly be wise to take a long-term view with Odegaard.
The upcoming friendlies are completely meaningless, and another injury setback in one of them could end up ruling the midfielder out this summer for the country’s first major international tournament since the year 2000.