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Arsenal have been faced with a possible injury concern for captain Martin Odegaard ahead of a crucial week which begins with the north London derby against Tottenham.
The Gunners captain suffered a knock in a tackle from Yankuba Minteh in the first half of last weekend’s controversial 1-1 draw with Brighton in the Premier League, receiving treatment on the pitch.
Although Odegaard was passed fit to continue, it took him some time to recover from the problem and his impact on the game was uncharacteristically muted before he was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli with just over 15 minutes remaining at the Emirates Stadium.
The 25-year-old has since joined up with the Norway squad ahead of their Nations League Group B3 opener, which begins against Kazakhstan in Almaty on Friday before the visit of Austria to Oslo on Monday evening.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has now issued a potentially worrying fitness update on Odegaard following the knock suffered against Brighton.
“I think it’s a new bang,” Solbakken said Thursday. “I was going to say I think it’s something other than a bang, so to speak.”
Arsenal fans will be waiting to see if Odegaard will feature for Norway against Kazakhstan on Friday.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta cannot afford any further midfield absences ahead of what is already shaping up to be a crucial first week back after the international break so early in the season.
Arsenal are already without Declan Rice for the north London derby at Tottenham on September 15 after the England star was controversially sent off early in the second half against Brighton after receiving a second yellow card for delaying the restart.
He will be back for the big away clash against title rivals Manchester City a week later (September 22), having served just one match suspension, and will also be available for the club’s opening game of the new Champions League away to current Europa League holders Atalanta in Italy on September 19.
However, new £31.6million signing Mikel Merino looks set to be sidelined for almost two months after fracturing his shoulder last week during his first ever training session at London Colney after joining from LaLiga club Real Sociedad.
Those absences have already given Arteta a midfield headache to face against Spurs, a problem that would only increase dramatically if Odegaard is also lacking fitness.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus could return to action against Tottenham, according to reports, as he steps up his recovery from a groin injury that has kept him out so far this season. Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, however, remains in treatment with a knee problem. Kieran Tierney is also still nursing a hamstring injury sustained during Euro 2024 with Scotland.
