Martin Odegaard injury timescale revealed by Norway team doctor

Martin Odegaard is set for a minimum of three weeks on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury, according to Norway national team doctor Ola Sand.

Odegaard started both of Norway's UEFA Nations League fixtures in September and was forced off 67 minutes into their second encounter against Austria. The Arsenal captain twisted his ankle when challenged by Christoph Baumgartner and limped off assisted by two Norway physios.

Sand suggested the midfielder had sprained his ankle post-match with Odegaard spotted on crutches as he returned to London to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. While we're yet to receive official confirmation from Arsenal regarding his injury, the Norway doctor has given his verdict with the player set for more scans on Wednesday.

Worrying Martin Odegaard injury timescale revealed by Norway team doctor

While Sand confirmed that Odegaard had avoided an ankle fracture, he noted that the type of injury sustained by the Arsenal skipper will sideline him for at least three weeks.

“What we have so far obtained from the MRI examination in London is that there is probably no fracture in the ankle,” Sand told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang (via The Standard).

“Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks. Anything other than that is just a bonus. And then it can take longer.

“Both Stale [Norway manager Solbakken] and I know that that collection hangs in the balance. It is not excluded. But we have to wait and see both what the MRI images show and how quickly he responds to treatment," he added.

While the likely absence of a fracture is a positive, it seems that Arsenal will be without their creative talisman until the October international break in a month's time. As a result, Odegaard is expected to miss upcoming Premier League clashes against Tottenham, Manchester City, Leicester, and Southampton, as well as Arsenal's opening two Champions League fixtures of the league phase against Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain.

Mikel Arteta and the Gunners certainly aren't used to functioning without their captain, so the upcoming period is bound to be a huge test of their 2024/25 credentials. The boss may have to get creative in mitigating Odegaard's absence over the next few weeks.

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