Arsenal have been dealt another significant injury setback ahead of the North London derby, as captain Martin Odegaard was forced off with an ankle injury during Norway’s Nations League match against Austria.
Odegaard, who had already been nursing a knock from Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, completed the full 90 minutes in Norway’s opening game against Kazakhstan. However, his luck ran out against Austria on Monday, when he suffered what appeared to be an ankle sprain midway through the second half.
The 25-year-old was involved in a challenge with Austria striker Christoph Baumgartner and twisted his left ankle, leaving him in visible pain. Medical staff assisted him to his feet, and while Odegaard managed to put some weight on his ankle, he ultimately required two physios to help him off the pitch as Kristian Thorstvedt finished the game, which Norway won 2-1.
With the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur only six days away, Odegaard’s availability is now in serious doubt, leaving Arsenal fans anxiously awaiting updates on his condition. Even if the injury turns out to be a mild Grade 1 sprain, recovery could take between one to three weeks, making his participation this weekend highly unlikely. A more severe Grade 2 sprain could sideline him for three to six weeks, while a Grade 3 sprain could require months of recovery.
The fact that Odegaard left the field without the need for a stretcher offers some hope that the injury isn’t severe, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is likely preparing for the derby without his captain.
Odegaard is now the second Arsenal player to suffer an injury during the international break, following Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, who withdrew from his squad after a calf injury sustained in a strange incident against France.
While Arsenal have enough defensive depth to handle Calafiori’s absence, Odegaard’s potential absence is a more significant concern. His regular backup, Fabio Vieira, was loaned back to Porto this summer, leaving Arteta short of options in midfield.
To complicate matters further, Declan Rice is suspended after receiving a controversial red card against Brighton, and Mikel Merino is out with a shoulder fracture, meaning Arteta could be without all three of the midfielders he had planned to field against Tottenham.
Thomas Partey, fortunately, remains injury-free and will likely anchor the midfield on Sunday, with Jorginho expected to return as well if Odegaard is unavailable. Despite Arteta’s hesitation to use Oleksandr Zinchenko as a full-time midfielder, the Ukrainian could be considered if needed.
Kai Havertz now seems the most likely candidate to replace Odegaard in the attacking midfield role, but this depends on Gabriel Jesus recovering from a groin injury in time to start up front. Alternatively, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, or Raheem Sterling may step into the forward position to cover for any changes.
