Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is on his way to meet up with his Norway team-mates, national team boss Stale Solbakken has confirmed.
Odegaard made his first Arsenal start since August on Sunday, assisting Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. The midfielder sustained an ankle injury on international duty back in September and was not included as Norway named their squad for this month’s fixtures last week.
However, Solbakken has refused to rule out his captain as the Arsenal star travels to meet up with his team-mates.
“We’ll see how it turns out,” the Norway boss wrote in VG on whether Odegaard could feature in games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.
“The ankle, the medics and Martin decide this.”
Odegaard made it through the entire game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday but had previously managed just a couple of minutes against Inter in the Champions League.
Speaking after the draw, Mikel Arteta said Odegaard had completed just one and a half training sessions and stressed how concerned he will be watching his players play for their national teams over the next fortnight.
“What I am just praying is that after the international break I have the team fully equipped physically, they are available and they are fit because it has been an absolute nightmare for eight weeks.”
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both limped off against Chelsea and Arteta suggested post-match that the pair will not be available for England.
A readymade backup option is a high priority.
Really wish we still had ESR.
The ESR debate is actually water under the bridge now.
What we can all pray & hope is that Odegaard comes back safe & sound.
Exactly, I’m glad he’s doing well now but he never stayed fit and when he was on the pitch he couldn’t provide what we needed. Let’s all just move on now
Saved Arteta’s job, short memory, no loyalty!?
Plenty of others in the squad who can’t stay fit yet are still at the club. Letting ESR leave was a big mistake.
It is water under the bridge but why did the club go through the window and not get a backup for Ode is case he got injured? Because clearly Arteta doesn’t see Ethan as that backup or he would have played him. ESR would have been invaluable to the club this season. Apparently the club gambled that Ode wouldn’t get injured which was a foolish gamble to take.
But if Ethan needs one more year to get there, why would you buy a new player who will take one year to adjust to the team and hinder Ethan’s development? The only problem is that Trossard did not perform as expected and Jesus showed nothing that would make him the makeshift replacement.
Loan options, maybe?
100% – but imagine trying to find someone of Odegaards quality on loan (ironic I know, but that has to be a once in a lifetime thing).
Kim Kallstrom
ESR’s style would make him a poor back up for Ødegaard.
I think the main thing though is whether his style would make him a better back up than Trossard or Havertz.
I’ve watched Fulham enough so that I don’t think I’m this on one or two atypical performances. Smith Rowe is a good player. But, when he first played senior football for Arsenal, I thought–and I think many others thought–that there was nothing to choose between him and Saka as far as quality. No one could believe that now. Maybe it was the injuries and lack of playing time, or something else, and maybe it will change, but right now any comparisons not just to Ødegaard’s quality but to his influence on the pitch, to his work rate–to everything–is based on… Read more »
don’t think I’m basing this on
We have one in Ethan. I get the debate that he hasn’t been given a million minutes but the fact is Ø was ever present and going by that assumption the plan for Ethan was always a few minutes in the early part of the season which hasn’t changed. So what happens if you buy say Eze and the captain stays fit all season, will he be happy with the minutes both Vieira and ESR were not happy with? We can survive three weeks without the captain at a time. What would happen if Kai was out for as long… Read more »
As others have said above, ESR was not really a viable option to do what Odegaard does. You may be able to find players that replicate some of his strengths, but you won’t find many who can provide the package that we get with MO – he is not really replaceable to my mind, without him we will have to try to adapt the team rather than try to find a like for like, and we have a lot of adaptable players. That said, clearly we do need more in the way of creative spark and I think Ethan will… Read more »
It seems fans are roughly happy with the result against Chelsea. I am not at all. It was yesterday that it became obvious that we will not win the league.
I think people have given up on the league (even if they aren’t saying here). Logic dictates we are unlikely to get anywhere near it. In fact, as it stands I’m genuinely concerned about our top 4 prospects. Since the last break, discounting the Preston game, we’ve played 5 games. Of these we’ve won 1, lost 3 and drawn 1. We’ve played poorly in all 5 games, our toothless attack has scored 2 goals and our world class defence conceded 4. People are simply happy this isn’t another ‘L’ and I am not entirely sure where our next win is… Read more »
Sorry, I just can’t agree with that.
Yes v Bournemouth was poor.
Could have beaten City, Liverpool and Chelsea – fine margins in all those games – let’s give it 10 more matches before we start panicking people.
Breaking news Øeegaard is not going to play for Norway this week, he will be rested.
I liked ESR but he was no MØ.
Yeah normally backups are better than the starters…
😀😀
Thank you sir! Finally, someone saying it as it is!
Oh PLEASE don’t let him play for Norway!
He is so crucial for us ❤️
to be honest if we want him back to full fitness then it’s not bad for him to play *a bit*. We can’t just wrap him in cotton wool and expect that he’d magically be at the top of his game after the interlull, unfortunately in football some risk is inherent. It sounds like they’re trying to be wise about it and that he won’t play 180 minutes in this interlull, and that’s what I’m hoping.
Could tell he was tired towards the end yesterday and he lost possession a couple times. The game time will benefit him and Arsenal, if he comes back healthy
Agreed with both of you. Let’s just pray for this one 🙏
This is madness! He performed heroics in terms of how long he was on the pitch for yesterday and still trying to press. He must but in bits today. Our player, our funds going on his wages. They broke him before, they shouldn’t be allowed the chance to break him again!
Internationals are nothing but an inconvenience, however an injury happening in that manner was just bad luck, that could have happened yesterday or by Gabriel in training
This is true for guys like Saka, but Norway haven’t qualified for anything cor 24 years and the Nations League represents a very doable route to the next Euros. I can completely see why he would want to help his country in this situation
Didn’t Norway name a squad recently that was one player light, leaving room for Odegaard if he recovered? Maybe this time a couple of games for Norway will get him up to speed, clutching at straws I know, but Martin ultimately has the final say.
What the hell?
Good decision, he needs some minutes to build up fitness.
But I would be annoyed if Saka, Rice, Calafiori, Timber are travelling as well. At this point these players need to decide whether they prioritize Arsenal or the Nations League. Because the number of games is not reducing anytime soon
Totally agree he needs minutes. But just imagine….
Best situation: MØ gets some good competitive minutes in his legs, is happy with making a good contribution to his national team, and comes back to London fitter and sharper. Good situation: MØ is rested and participates in whatever training plan is devised for him by Arsenal. Bad situation: MØ plays for Norway, doesn’t get injured but comes back a bit exhausted. Worst situation: MØ plays for Norway and gets injured. Obviously we all want what’s best for our captain, our club and our chances of success. There’s just a debate as to whether we’re happy to risk the worst… Read more »
I think if Norway are sensible, they should bring him on from the bench for 30-35 min to ease him back. This would be good move for both sides. We need him match sharp.
The question is if we even need another round of pointless internationals. The only real interest is in tournaments and even they’ve become too big to be exciting.
Surely there must be a way to qualify with fewer games.
International football jumped the shark a long time ago. It totally buggers up any rhythm to the season, players come back injured and the tournaments themselves have become so bloated we’re probably only a few years from a 64-team Euros that takes 30 matches (plus play-offs) to qualify for.
Why is Arsenal, MO and Arteta too nice to a fault?
Liverpool has refused to let Salah travel despite him being fit all season and firing.
Here we are allowing someone who had just played his 1st game in over 2 months and nit 100% fit return to international friendlies where his health is a second priority to them winning a football game.
Off topic, sorry, but the noises out of the owners about replacing Edu are not good.
The NYT/Athletic reports that the owners (not Edu) insisted this summer that sales should precede investment. The Times+Guardian report the search for a replacement could take six months to a year. Considered together, warnings that we might be going back to dithering and under -investment in the transfer market.
PS. I’m not happy that I agree with William Gallas (quoted in the Mirror), but I do.
Not an ITK but
1) weren’t we close to FFP? Would explain the rational « sell before buy »
2) There are people to fill Edu’s shoes already at the club so I don’t think it’s a worry that we spend necessary time to find the right person for this job is it ?
3) fuck William gallas
1) Debatable – https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-major-reason-hopeful-after-29441512
2) We’ve been here before – https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/feb/16/arsene-wenger-arsenal-david-dein-successor-manager
3) Agree. And yet.
We need to employ Fergie as a ‘Slight Ankle Strain Before the Interlull’ Consultant.