Arsenal handed fresh ‘hope’ over Martin Odegaard injury after latest update
Arsenal are still waiting to see how bad Martin Odegaard’s injury is, after the midfielder was dealt a blow during the International break.
Odegaard appeared to twist his ankle during Norway’s game against Austria, and was spotted in crutches after the match.
With tough trips to Tottenham Hotspur, Atalanta and Manchester City in the coming week, Mikel Arteta now finds himself on the verge of a potential crisis, as new signing Mikel Merino is also injured, and Declan Rice is suspended for the North London Derby.
It has been estimated that Odegaard could be absent for a minimum of three weeks, but Arsenal have now been handed some fresh hope that his injury is not a serious one.
Martin Odegaard to undergo further injury tests
The Daily Mail have now reported that Odegaard’s ankle swelling initially blocked tests to determine the damage to his ankle, but this has now subsided enough for further scans to take place.
Could Martin Odegaard play for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur?
Odegaard’s ankle injury meant that he could not walk unassisted in the immediate aftermath, and given that there is still swelling, it seems unlikely that he will be sufficiently fit to play on Sunday.
This represents a huge midfield issue given Rice’s absence as well, but if his injury is determined not to be a serious one, then there could still be hope that Odegaard could play against Man City next week in what is a crucial match in the title race.
The midfielder will be a huge miss for Arsenal if he is absent, and Arteta will have to find a solution to replace his creativity.
With Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe leaving in the summer, Arteta may have to turn to youngster Ethan Nwaneri, but it is a huge risk despite the 17-year-old’s talent.
