Team Confirm Ødegaard Suffers Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

The club has announced that Martin Ødegaard has pulled out from Norway’s squad for upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the 2-0 victory over their opponents this past weekend.

Ødegaard went down clutching his knee after clashing with Crysencio Summerville during the opening period at the Emirates and tried repeatedly to carry on after receiving treatment before being eventually replaced by Martín Zubimendi. The manager said post-game that Ødegaard had departed the stadium with his knee in a brace and stated his captain was “not positive about it.”

But while Declan Rice is expected to meet up with the national team this week despite also being substituted against West Ham with a back issue, Arsenal announced that Ødegaard had withdrawn from the Norway squad and it is understood they are hopeful that he will only be sidelined briefly rather than a long period. “Ødegaard will undergo further evaluation and cared for by our medical team during the international window, with the goal of a return to action as soon as possible,” Arsenal said in a release.

Ødegaard has endured an unlucky beginning to the new campaign after dealing with a shoulder problem that forced him off 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 international break.