The midfielder was taken off before half-time following a heavy collision with Crysencio Summerville during Arsenal’s recent victory – a match sealed by goals from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Odegaard initially tried to continue but was soon replaced by Martin Zubimendi, with manager Mikel Arteta later expressing concern. “It didn’t look good at the time,” said Arteta. “Martin wanted to carry on, but we had to take precautions. He’s a key player for us, and we need to make sure he recovers properly.”
Arsenal have since confirmed that the Norwegian playmaker has suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in his left knee. Consequently, he will miss Norway’s upcoming fixtures against New Zealand and Israel, remaining at the club’s Sobha Realty Training Centre for further assessment and treatment.
Medical guidance suggests recovery from an MCL injury can range from one to three weeks for a minor strain, up to ten weeks for a severe tear – though reports indicate a serious injury is unlikely in Odegaard’s case.
This setback is Odegaard’s third injury in Arsenal’s opening ten matches, disrupting his early-season momentum. His absence adds to the Gunners’ growing injury list, which already includes Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Piero Hincapié, and Noni Madueke.
With Eberechi Eze and young prospect Ethan Nwaneri available to fill the gap, Arteta will be hoping his captain’s recovery is swift as Arsenal look to maintain their impressive start to the campaign.