Club Confirm Ødegaard Suffers Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

Arsenal have confirmed that Martin Ødegaard has withdrawn from the national team for upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after suffering a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee in the win over their opponents this past weekend.

Ødegaard went down clutching his knee after a challenge from Crysencio Summerville in the first half at the Emirates and twice attempted to continue playing 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 in the coming days despite also being replaced against West Ham with a back problem, Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that Ødegaard had pulled out from the Norway squad and it is believed they are optimistic 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 comeback as soon as possible,” Arsenal said in a statement.

Ødegaard has endured an injury-hit start to the season after dealing with a shoulder injury that caused him to leave against two opponents. He will be alongside several teammates on the sidelines, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is likely to come back from a groin injury after the international break.