Arsenal handed Martin Odegaard injury boost as Mikel Arteta avoids Tottenham derby crisis
Martin Odegaard has been named in the latest Norway team to banish injury fears ahead of a crucial week coming up for Arsenal.
The midfielder, a hugely influential figure as captain for both club and country, has been included in Stale Solbakken’s starting lineup as his side begin their Nations League Group B3 campaign away against Kazakhstan at Almaty Central Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Odegaard’s fitness will come as a huge relief for both Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, who will hope that his skipper does not suffer any further setbacks on international duty.
The 25-year-old has started all three of the Gunners’ Premier League matches so far this season, but sustained a knock following a first-half challenge by Yankuba Minteh during last weekend’s contentious 1-1 draw against Brighton.
Odegaard received treatment on the pitch before being deemed fine to continue, though he appeared to take a little while to shake off the issue and had an unusually muted impact on the game before being eventually replaced by Gabriel Martinelli with just over 15 minutes left to play at the Emirates Stadium.
Commenting on his captain’s fitness at a pre-Kazakhstan press conference on Thursday, Solbakken had provoked concern by saying: “I think it’s another bang. I was about to say, I think it is something other than the bang, so to speak.”
However, Odegaard himself allayed any fears over a lingering injury, telling reporters: “I feel good.
“I took a couple of knocks in the match [against Brighton], but feel better now. Yesterday I trained as normal without any problems and I am ready for the match.”
Provided he comes through the Kazakhstan clash and Monday night’s home meeting with Austria in Oslo unscathed, Arteta will be relieved to have Odegaard fit and available for what is already shaping up to be a potentially critical week for Arsenal so early into the new season.
