Team Confirm Ødegaard Suffers Medial Collateral Ligament Damage

Arsenal have confirmed that Martin Ødegaard has pulled out from the national team for their games against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee in the win over West Ham this past weekend.

Ødegaard collapsed holding his knee after a challenge from Crysencio Summerville during the opening period at the Emirates and twice attempted to carry on after being treated before being eventually replaced by Martín Zubimendi. The manager said after the match that Ødegaard had departed the stadium with his knee supported and admitted his captain was “pessimistic about it.”

But while Declan Rice is scheduled to join with the national team in the coming days despite also being substituted against West Ham with a back issue, Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that Ødegaard had withdrawn from the Norway squad and it is understood they are optimistic that he will only be sidelined briefly rather than months. “Ødegaard will undergo further evaluation and cared for by our medical team during the break, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible,” Arsenal said in a release.

Ødegaard has experienced an injury-hit start to the new campaign after struggling with a shoulder problem that forced him off against two opponents. He will be alongside Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke on the injury list, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is likely to come back from a groin injury after the international break.