Club Announce Ødegaard Has Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

The club has announced that Martin Ødegaard has withdrawn from Norway’s squad for their games against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a MCL damage to his knee in the win over their opponents on Saturday.

Ødegaard collapsed holding his knee after clashing with Crysencio Summerville in the first half at the Emirates and tried repeatedly to carry on after being treated before being eventually replaced by Martín Zubimendi. Mikel Arteta said after the match that Ødegaard had departed the stadium with his knee in a brace and stated his captain was “pessimistic about it.”

But while Declan Rice is expected to meet up with Thomas Tuchel’s England squad this week despite also being replaced against West Ham with a back problem, Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that Ødegaard had withdrawn from the Norway squad and it is believed they are optimistic that he will only be out for weeks rather than months. “Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team during the break, with the aim of a comeback as soon as possible,” Arsenal said in a release.

Ødegaard has endured an injury-hit start to the new campaign after dealing with a shoulder injury that caused him to leave against Leeds and Nottingham Forest. He will join several teammates on the sidelines, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is likely to come back from a groin issue after the pause.