Martin Ødegaard Faces Three-Week Absence After Ankle Injury

Martin Ødegaard will miss at least three weeks due to an ankle injury according to Norway’s team doctor Ola Sand. Ødegaard, who injured his ankle during Norway’s Nations League win over Austria returned to London on Tuesday for an MRI scan. Sand indicated that Ødegaard “probably has no fracture” but noted that recovery for such injuries typically requires at least three weeks.

Anything shorter would be a bonus and a fracture could keep Ødegaard out for over six weeks. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will offer a detailed update on Ødegaard’s condition during his news conference on Friday, ahead of Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham. If Ødegaard is out for three weeks, he will miss five crucial games.

This includes next Thursday’s Champions League match against Atalanta and the Premier League clash with Manchester City on September 22. Alongside Martin Ødegaard absence, Arsenal will also miss two other midfielders for the derby. Declan Rice will serve a suspension and summer signing Mikel Merino will sit out with a fractured shoulder.

Fellow summer recruit Riccardo Calafiori is doubtful due to a calf injury he picked up during a Nations League match against France. On a positive note, striker Gabriel Jesus might soon return to action after recovering from a groin problem.

The injury crisis challenges Arsenal with key players missing and Arteta will need to adapt his tactics to handle these difficult fixtures.