Club Announce Ødegaard Has 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The club has announced that Martin Ødegaard has withdrawn from the national team for upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee in the 2-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday.

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 after the match that Ødegaard had departed the stadium with his knee in a brace and admitted his captain was “pessimistic about it.”

Although Declan Rice is scheduled to join with Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in the coming days despite also being substituted against West Ham with a back problem, Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that Ødegaard had pulled out from the Norway squad and it is understood they are optimistic that he will only be out for weeks rather than months. “Martin will continue to be assessed and cared for by our staff during the break, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible,” Arsenal said in a release.

Ødegaard has endured an injury-hit start to the new campaign after dealing with a shoulder injury that caused him to leave against Leeds and Nottingham Forest. He will join several teammates on the injury list, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is expected to return from a groin injury after the international break.