Following a knee injury suffered in Arsenal’s most recent victory over West Ham, Martin Odegaard’s season has taken another hit, therefore causing his withdrawal from Norway’s upcoming matches. In the 30th minute on October 4, the Gunners captain was replaced; subsequent scans showed a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in his left knee.
The event followed a fight with Crysencio Summerville; Odegaard then tried to continue before collapsing from pain. Arsenal quickly confirmed his withdrawal from a friendly versus New Zealand and Norway’s World Cup qualifier against Israel. Hoping for a quick return, the club’s statement promised to observe and treat him throughout the international break. Worried Manager Mikel Arteta admitted Odegaard was not positive about the seriousness of the injury after being told he would wear a knee brace.
The captain’s injury problems exacerbate a season already disrupted; earlier, he had had to leave other games early due to a chronic shoulder ailment. Though Arsenal have not yet officially announced a recovery schedule, outside medical experts have several options. While a Grade 2 strain could call for three to six weeks of rest, a slight (Grade 1) Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) strain could sideline Odegaard for one to three weeks. Though club insiders feel the worst-case scenario is improbable, more severe (Grade 3) damage might call for a longer absence.
Arsenal will most certainly lean on midfielder options like Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, or Christian Norgaard in their absence. Given a number of important fixtures approaching, including peak performance in Champions League and Premier League games after the international break, the timing of Martin Odegaard’s return will be vital to Arsenal’s efforts on several fronts. For a side already negotiating a small roster, Odegaard’s injury only worsens growing fitness issues. Resting him during worldwide duty shows that Arsenal see this as a priority; acts have to be kept in mind with an eye toward continuous performance throughout a congested schedule.