Team Announce Ødegaard Suffers Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

The club has announced that Martin Ødegaard has withdrawn from the national team for upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a MCL damage to his knee in the win over their opponents this past weekend.

Ødegaard collapsed holding his knee after clashing with Crysencio Summerville during the opening period at the Emirates and twice attempted to carry on after being treated before being substituted by Martín Zubimendi. The manager said post-game that Ødegaard had left the ground with his knee in a brace and stated his captain was “not positive about it.”

But while Declan Rice is scheduled to join with the national team in the coming days despite also being replaced against West Ham with a back problem, Arsenal announced that Ødegaard had pulled out from the Norway squad and it is understood they are hopeful that he will only be sidelined briefly rather than a long period. “Martin will undergo further evaluation and cared for by our staff during the break, with the aim of a comeback as soon as possible,” the club said in a statement.

Ødegaard has experienced an unlucky beginning to the new campaign after struggling with a shoulder problem that caused him to leave against two opponents. He will join several teammates on the injury list, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is likely to come back from a groin injury after the international break.